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.

DESIGN DO’S AND DON’T’S FOR YOUR AIKEN HOME…

DESIGN DO’S AND DON’T’S FOR YOUR AIKEN HOME…

Before you start your next home renovation project, consider your space needs first. HGTV and DIY Network offer these tips for taking on room projects that will give your home a fresh look.

First, think long term. Since most homeowners are likely to stay in the home at least five years before they see real appreciation, avoid installing the hottest design trends of the moment for expensive items like flooring, bathroom tile and backsplashes. Instead, design with affordable and more disposable accessories such as pillows and throw rugs, which can be changed out easily and quickly.

Don’t purchase furniture before you move in to the home. Live in the space for a few months and get accurate measurements of each room before spending your hard-earned cash on oversized items that may not fit. The same holds true for selecting paint colors. A room’s natural lighting changes throughout the day, so paint colors that stand out during daylight hours may appear muted at dusk.

When it comes to your kitchen, focus on quality, not quantity. Not everyone can knock down a wall to install a kitchen island. Develop a good space plan that includes efficient storage for your dinnerware and small appliances.

Need a second opinion? Seek the advice of a novice home designer or your favorite REALTOR who can give you a fresh perspective at an affordable rate and return on your investment. Finally, make sure all decision-makers are on board with the project and budget. Otherwise, you’ll have to start all over.

Best Boomer Towns…Aiken makes the List “Best Place to Thrive”

Best Boomer Towns Website is based on the largest U.S. population, Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, who will be leaving the workforce. Research is comprised from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000, Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, AARP, New York Times, Del Webb Survey, and U.S. World News Report. Based on the research, twenty-one towns have been selected in the United States that deliver the high standards that Baby Boomers expect when they relocate and retire. Key criteria for each town includes: Airport Access, University Presence, Good Hospitals, Social Opportunities, Cultural Activities, Variety of housing costs, Mild Climates

Learn more about Aiken, SC and why it’s so popular with Boomers.

http://bestboomertowns.com/towns/aiken_south_carolina/

Source of information website bestboomertowns.com.

Aiken Downtown Fall/Winter Schedule 2014

Our Fall/Winter Downtown Event Schedule is out! Lots of fun activities coming up that you do not want to miss! Let us know if you would like one mailed to you.

Storytime in the Gardens for September and October for Fall 2014

Storytime in the Gardens for September and October. Every Tuesday at 4pm at the sand patio at Hopeland Gardens.

Hopelands Gardens is located at 135 Dupree Place Aiken, SC 29801. In case of inclement weather, the readings will be held inside the H. O. Weeks Center - Rooms 6&7 located at 1700 Whiskey Rd. Aiken, SC 29801. For inclement weather information, please call 803-643-4661. For all other information, please call 803-642-7631