Aiken SC REAL ESTATE 2014 in REVIEW...

Aiken SC REAL ESTATE 2014 in REVIEW...
banner year for Aiken Homes Team at MEYBOHM REALTORS


It's hard to believe we are already mid February 2015.

2014 was a banner year for he Aiken HOMES Team at Meybohm REALTORS.  Our Aiken HOMES team helped over 120 families by being part of the buying or selling process of real estate. We had a 30% increase in volume of personal team sales and we are thankful for a great first year.

Our new marketing, launching of our website www.Aikenhomes.com, lots of plain old fashion hard and honest work was successful.  We are rolling up our sleeves and ready to do it again in 2015; hopefully it will be even a better year! 

Per Aiken Board of Realtors Multiple List System data for the year of  2014 real estate in review for your information.

• 9% increase in total sales volume
• Days on the market no remarkable change
• Average sales price of home is $162,513 a slight increase over 2013
    There were 151 more home sales/units sold in 2014
• Most sales range categories had increased number of sales except for the price ranges
    of over 1.25 million
• Big increase of listing inventory on the market by 665 homes.

This year will bring more positive changes in our marketing approach.  We are expanding our
internet marketing by the use of LIST  HUB as well as other exciting changes.

LIST  HUB will submit our listings to over 900 different  internet websites.  Our seller clients receive valuable and informational statistics reports. Thinking of selling contact us to discuss how we will sell your real estate.

Thank you again for wonderful 2014, we are truly blessed. We welcome the opportunity to serve you with all your real estate needs.

Our goal is to provide clients and customers with the best real estate experience  possible with the results they deserve. 

HOMES BY DESIGN FOR 2015

Looking for a few ways to freshen up your home’s interior design for the New Year?  Check out these ideas from home furnishings retailer BoConcept New York and Cheryl Hucks Interior Design.

Get the Blues – Blue is the color of the year, and while cooler tones have been popular for several years, shades of blue will be more prominent in home design in warmer and bolder shades. To update your home décor, add a sofa or accent pieces in midnight blue or indigo.

Heavy Metal – Add a little sparkle to your home décor by adding a few metallic elements, such as a brass floor lamp, silver picture frame or throw pillows with copper stripes.

Natural Elements – Using natural materials adds more space and depth within your living space. Furniture made of natural wood, especially in lighter shades, creates an open, airy atmosphere. Try mixing wood pieces with other natural materials.

Tone on Tone – Create a contemporary tone-on-tone look by layering one color with varying shades and textures of the same color. Despite using different textures and saturation levels, designers at BoConcept say the overall appearance will be soft, calm and sophisticated.

Make a Statement– Some designers say using large prints and floral fabrics for accent furniture pieces can make a bold statement and give a room a creative focal point. 

For HOME selling purposes put your bold personal color choices in your accents and furniture pieces. Keeping your home more sellable and the new owners can add their own personal color touches and easily to make their own. Call your favorite Realtor or Vikki and Brandi at “The Aiken HOMES Team” if you need guidance on “dressing your HOME for home SALE success”.

Financing Your First Home

FINANCING A FIRST HOME

Although financing a first home can be challenging, buyers who are prepared and know what they can afford up front can help expedite the process and save themselves unnecessary headaches later. Before starting your home search, follow these financial tips from the National Association of Home Builders and Bankrate.com.

     First, figure out what you can afford to pay each month. In addition to principal and interest, figure expenses for local taxes, insurance, and if buying a condominium, monthly assessments. Once you have this calculation, don’t be tempted by lenders to pay more than that. Free mortgage calculators, which are available on many real estate and finance websites, can help you estimate monthly payments based on current interest rates and down payment. Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of gross monthly income should be allocated to housing costs.

     Pay down your debts. Any credit card debt you have can limit how much you can borrow from a lender. Check your credit report thoroughly for any errors or unpaid accounts, and resolve those issues before moving ahead. Allow at least six months to iron out any credit problems before shopping for a home, experts suggest.

     Determine your monthly cash flow. Track your spending for two or three months to see where money is going. Once you know what you can afford and what your cash flow is, you can determine your down payment.

     Organize documents, especially those that validate income and taxes. Most lenders may want to see two recent pay stubs, W-2s and tax returns from the previous two years, and the last two monthly bank statements. Having these documents ready ahead of time can help the lending process run more smoothly.

 If you are just getting started, talk to an experienced Realtor who is willing to guide you through the process. Also, check out local home-buying seminars or sites like HUD.gov, which provides information about shopping for and financing a home. Ask friends, family and co-workers for referrals for lending professionals they’ve worked with previously, and talk with lenders and credit counselors to find financing options that will work best for you.