Millennials get a lot of flack, but they’re an important part of the real estate market. In fact, they make up the largest generational percentage of home buyers right now!
So, if you’re planning on selling your home soon, it’s important to keep the average millennial home buyer in mind. This generation is unlike any that’s come before it, and the way they buy everything (from laundry detergent to life insurance) is unique.
When it comes to catching the eye of the discerning millennial home buyer, here’s what you need to do:
Create a Strong Internet Presence
It goes without saying that millennials rely on the Internet for, well, everything. This isn’t unusual: the Internet makes every kind of shopping easier and more accessible.
As such, giving your home an effective online presence is key. It needs to be easy to find via the most popular home-buying networks, and it has to look great no matter the screen size. After all, more home buyers than ever before are using their smartphones to find their dream home.
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Professional Listing Photos
Because millennials rely on the Internet to search homes for sale, your home’s photos have to stand out in a big way. After all, with the right photographer even the smallest home can look like a palace.
So, don’t skimp on this expense! Great photos could be the difference between a home selling within hours, and a home languishing on the market for months.
Show How Your Home Will Improve their Lifestyle
Millennials are looking for homes that will improve their lifestyles and be close to wherever they need to be during the week. As you market your home online, be sure you’re highlighting both its features and location in your listing description.
Tell an exciting story of how much better their life will be once they buy your home! Craft your listing description to carefully touch on all the best parts of your home and its surroundings, and let buyers know exactly why they need to buy it.
Know What Millennials are Looking for in a Home
So, what are millennials looking for anyway? Market research finds that millennial buyers are attracted to affordable homes with eco-friendly and smart features. If your home has any green features or environmentally friendly add-ons, you’ll definitely want to highlight them.
In addition, if you’ve outfitted your home to accommodate any smart features that use technology—like a Nest thermostat or other Smart Home appliances—be sure to mention that in your listing description and social media promotion.
Use a Pro to Market Your Home
The easiest way to market your home to millennials? Work with a real estate specialist who understands this unique market—and how to best target real estate’s next generation of buyers.
Give us a call today for more information about selling your home to millennials!
Repainting the walls, updating the kitchen and bathroom, replacing the hot water heater—there are ways to increase your home’s value that stand the test of time. But as the market and the priorities of buyers change, there are newer, more popular ways to get a high return on your investment!
Smart home technology is becoming a bigger factor for buyers, and it’s not hard to see why. Things like smart appliances, high-efficiency lighting, and programmable thermostats aren’t only convenient, but they also save you money on utility bills! Lucky for sellers, smart home technology is pretty affordable compared to other value-boosting projects and can increase your home’s resale value by a few percentage points.
Whether you’re selling your home soon and looking to get top dollar or just curious about your options, take a look at our guide to the top smart home technology to install in 2019.
Smart Appliances
Pretty much every appliance in your home has a “smart” option—refrigerators, washers and dryers, faucets, ovens, you name it. Smart fridges can self-adjust the temperature and create grocery lists, smart ovens allow you to check how much time is left from your phone and preprogam recipes, and smart washers will run during the most cost-effective time of day.
As far as what to install, you don’t have to replace every appliance with a smart version, but think of what’s most practical. Since kitchens and bathrooms are priorities for buyers, consider replacing the fridge, oven, or faucets.
Smart Security System & Locks
Installing a smart security system is one of the most popular smart improvements you can make. According to T3 Sixty’s recent survey of buyers interested in smart home technology, the largest amount of interest was shown for smart security systems.
The security includes anything from cameras that upload footage to a virtual database to locks enabled by wifi. Some companies, like Nest, Ring, and SimpliSafe, offer bundle packages with alarms, cameras, and smart doorbells. Since security is such a high priority for buyers, these systems will likely show one of the highest returns on your investment.
Smart Lighting
You know those lights that turn on when you clap? This is the next level. Not only can smart lighting be controlled via apps, but it can also be set to trigger under certain conditions, like when you walk by or when you leave for work. Forget to switch the lights off before leaving? No problem—you can just turn them off from your phone!
It’s recommended to buy a starter pack, since those come with light bulbs and other supplies you’ll need for setup. Once that’s all installed, most systems are compatible with smart speakers like the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Smart Thermostats
Buying a home is a big investment, so if you can show potential buyers how your home can help save them money, it’s going to make your property that much more desirable. According to studies conducted by major smart thermostat providers like Ecobee and Nest, homeowners saved 23% in heating and cooling costs (Ecobee) and around $150 annually (Nest). You can even estimate what the savings in your home might look like with an energy calculator!
The most popular smart home thermostats are Ecobee and Nest, which will run you around $200 – $300. If you’re interested in a budget option that will still look flashy to buyers, check out Honeywell. Of course, each system offers different features, so be sure to do a little research beforehand.
Smart Blinds
Smart blinds are a little more of a cosmetic perk for buyers, but they do have their money-saving benefits. You can set the shades to open or close based on peak sunlight times or the temperature of your home, which saves a few extra dollars on heating and cooling here and there. They also add an extra layer of security and convenience to the home, both of which are big selling points for today’s buyers.
Depending on the model you get, you can control your smart shades through an app, a smart hub, or even just your voice. You can even coordinate them with other smart features in your home, like the lighting or smoke detectors!
Check out options like the Serena smart shade by Lutron, the Pella Insynctive line, or Ikea’s upcoming August line.
Getting Ready to List Your Home?
While smart home technology might be one of the most popular ways to up your home’s value right now, there are plenty of other options. Give us a call, and we’ll be more than happy to walk through your home and recommend a few value-boosting improvements!
Already ready to list? Let us know, and we’ll help you find the best listing price for your home—with all of your recent upgrades taken into account.
There are only two types of seller’s in our real estate market today. There is the “Old School” seller. These sellers set a price and never change it. In fact, there is a good chance they will change their agents more times than their price. Then there is the “New School” seller. These sellers know their buyer is watching their property on the internet and have no problem adjusting their asking price if there is no activity. Can you guess which sellers will sell faster and most likely for more?
Let’s just take a quick look at the Old School Real Estate Market. In the not so long ago past, buyers could not easily determine how long a property had been on the market and did not have easy access to comps. These buyers had to walk into a real estate office or call their agent on the phone to get additional information. This gave “Old School” sellers a chance at bat because buyers had to call an agent to get more information about their property. The bad news for Old School sellers is the internet changed all of this.
Buyers don’t have to raise their hand in the market today. Buyer’s remain stealth with the internet until they spot a properly priced property with the criteria they are looking for. They have easy access to comps on internet sites including Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com . They can now see how long a property has been on the market and quickly determine if it’s priced right. They don’t even waste their time looking at an overpriced property. More bad news for the Old School seller!
What’s the solution for “Old School” sellers? When positioning your property for sale, if there are only a few showings, no second showings and no offers, there is only one reason. If your property has tumbleweeds blowing around the drive, adjust your value early and often! You will be amazed what happens!
So, you bought a house. First of all, congratulations! The search is over, no more weekends filled with open houses and showings, and you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Phew.
But your work isn’t quite done yet. Once you buy a house, there are a few things that need to happen before and after move-in day. Check out our list of to-dos, and get prepared for what comes after closing—trust us, your future self will thank you.
Do a Deep Clean
When you first buy your home, there won’t be any heavy dressers blocking off corners, couches and beds to clean under, or stacks of boxes covered in cobwebs in the attic. Your house will never be this empty again—well, until you sell it, that is—so take advantage of the wide-open space.
Whether you want to hire professional cleaners or DIY, you should pour some serious TLC into your new house. Dust, vacuum, mop, scrub, polish—look up a few cleaning checklists for inspiration—and put in some elbow grease.
Change Your Address
This process will be a little tedious, but it has to be done. First, you should fill out a change of address form from your post office, so any mail sent to your old address will get forwarded to your new one—although these days you can even complete the process online!
Next, get in touch with credit card companies, your cell phone provider, and anyone else who will need to continue sending you bills. Big fan of online shopping? The last thing you want is for your package to get dropped off at your old house, so be sure to update your Amazon info, as well.
Set Up Utilities & Security
Running water, electricity, internet…all things you probably want working when you move in, right? If you already have a provider, you’ll need to communicate the change address to them, stop service to your old address, and set up a date for service to continue at your new address.
While you’re getting things installed, you should also consider setting up a security system. These days you’ll have plenty of affordable and high-tech options, so be sure to browse what’s available. At the very least, consider changing your locks, since old copies of the keys from the past owners could still be floating around.
Keep Your Documents Organized
Once you’ve closed on your home, you’re going to have a lot of important documents to keep track of, and moving is going throw everything into chaos (although hopefully organized chaos) for a bit. As soon as you’ve closed and before you move in, collect all of the documents you used for your mortgage loan, as well as any copies of closing papers.
You never know when you might need some of them again, so invest in a secure storage system to keep them organized and around at all times.
Say Hi to the Neighbors
Even if you’re a little shy, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself to the neighbors once you move in. After all, close neighbors can help with anything from lending you an extra cup of sugar to watching your pets while you’re out of town.
You don’t have to organize a mixer or bake cookies for everyone, but just saying hello while you’re out and about can go a long way in establishing those important relationships.
Ready to Buy Your Dream Home?
Now that you know what to do after you’ve closed, let’s get started with your home search! From guiding you around the area to helping you navigate your mortgage options, our team is here to help you reach your real estate goals—and answer all of your questions along the way.
If you’re ready to get started or have a few questions, just give us a call today!
Taxes are confusing, which is why many people in the U.S. choose to hire an expert to do their taxes for them. After all, there are so many numbers to know, forms to have ready, records of income and expenses, W-4s, 1099s, 380-Ts—we could’ve just made that last one up, and there’s no way of knowing!
Even though taxes might be complicated, they (sometimes) have a few perks. And if you own a home, those perks could mean a major bonus on your return. If you’re thinking of buying a home before next year’s taxes are due, here’s everything you need to know about how making a home purchase can affect your returns.
Deductions vs. Credit
Before we kick off the fun stuff, it’s important to know a little jargon—namely, the difference between a deduction and a credit.
When it comes to credits, think of them like tax-related coupons that reduce your dollar-for-dollar total. A few major tax credits include child tax credits, adoption credits, education or retirement credits, or credits for energy efficient homes and cars. Depending on the credits you qualify for, you could get anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars taken off of your tax liability.
Deductions are a little different: they reduce your taxable income, which can then adjust the total that you owe. Claiming certain deductions means that that part of your income is exempt from being taxed. Knowing which deductions to claim is key when filing, especially for homeowners.
Tax Benefits for Homeowners
Buying a home is expensive, but when it comes to tax time, here are the ways you can make some of that money back.
Mortgage Interest
One of the reasons that taxes for homeowners are so confusing is because they tend to change based on federal standards. Over the past few years, the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act pretty drastically altered the tax benefits for home ownership.
The most important change to know this year has to do with mortgage-related deductions. Previously, the tax deduction for home mortgages was limited to interest paid on $1 million debt for jointly filing married couples and single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing separately. Now, the numbers look more like $750,000 for the former and $500,000 for the latter. Additionally, interest paid during closing can also be counted towards this number.
Property & State Taxes
Did you know that the amount you pay in property taxes, state income taxes, and local sales tax is also deductible? If you pay property taxes through escrow, your lender will need to get the amount for you on your 1098 form, otherwise you should be able to find it in your personal records. The latest tax laws have instituted a cap at $10,000, but every little bit counts!
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Believe it or not, tax deductions on PMI are a hotly contested subject. Until recently, buyers were able to deduct the payments they made on Private Mortgage Insurance, but as of 2017, that ability expired. If you did buy your home before 2017, then your yearly income will determine how much you can deduct.
There’s no timeline on when deductions for PMI could return, but, unfortunately, if you’re a more recent home-buyer with these payments, those perks aren’t currently available.
Credits
We talked a little bit earlier about the difference between deductions and credits, so what sort of credits can you get as a homeowner? One of the biggest tax credits that homeowners can cash in on is having energy-efficient homes. In fact, if you installed geothermal heat or solar energy, you could be entitled to credit for up to 30% of the installation fee.
Other energy-efficient features, like storm doors and added insulation, can net you a few hundred dollars in credit, as well.
Tax-Free Profits
While many parts of the tax law have changed in the past few years, one aspect has stayed the same: tax-free profits. Selling your home not only means a big profit after the sale, but a large portion of the money you make won’t even get taxed—meaning you get to pocket more.
Married homeowners who sell their homes won’t have to pay capital gain taxes on up to $500,000 from the sale, while single filers can keep half of that as non-taxable income.
While there are some guidelines—like the home must have been a primary residence for at least two of the past five years—it’s a big plus when it comes to selling.
Want to Explore More of the Benefits of Home-Owning?
Believe it or not, there are a lot more benefits to owning a home than tax deductions. If you need help navigating the ins and outs of the home-buying and home-owning process, our team is here to help. With years of local experience and real estate know-how, we have the skills and resources necessary for home-buying and selling success.
The beach is
empty – the tourists and the sea turtles have departed –
and the
hatching season has ended. But what a season it has been – a record
setting 463 nests were laid this year on Hilton Head
Island beaches! One was a Kemps Ridley, two were Green sea
turtles, and the rest were our most beautiful and favorite mothers, the
loggerheads.
Thank you all
for sharing the sea turtle journey with us this year – your interest and
enthusiasm have been inspiring! You are wonderful ambassadors to help
save the sea turtles and our environment.
Our adopters
have come from almost every state in the US,
almost every province in Canada,
and from locations around the world (including Dubai!!!). You are all awesome!
This year’s adopters include:
* Classes of
students in New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina and more, and of
course the entire second grade of the Hilton Head Island IB Elementary School!
It is a special joy to
hear from all of the children who are becoming fantastic spokespeople for sea
turtles with their new found knowledge.
* Children in
Arizona, Wisconsin
and others receiving birthday gift nests, and adults celebrating milestone
birthdays in New Jersey, California and elsewhere.
* A couple
receiving 50th Anniversary gifts, and other brides and grooms around
the country becoming adoptive sea turtle parents.
* Lost loved
ones near and far honored with dedicated memorial nests.
* Friends who
travel and send us beautiful pictures of sea turtles that they have encountered
from around the world – like Paul Mila (milabooks.com), author, diver and
environmentalist who sent a picture of a loggerhead he encountered in the
Caribbean who survived a boat propeller strike, another danger to our
loggerheads.
* Book Groups
– including the Primrose Book Club of West Virginia.
* A mother
who adopts for 11 family members around the country so they can compare their
nest success stats at the end of the season (thank you, Chickie!).
*
Grandparents who share in the joy of sea turtles with their grandchildren, and
continue the tradition of environmental stewardship and appreciation.
* Realtors
who adopt for their clients – thank you, Lindsay Bunting of Sea Pines Real
Estate (The Cottage Group), and Robbie Bunting
* A law firm
Winston and Strawn with adopters in offices around the globe – they are changing
the world for the better!
And countless
others – thank you for adopting.
To our local
sea turtle lovers, we say thanks – the amazing Sea Turtle Patrol who does the
“heavy lifting” every morning starting at 5:00 am, the Turtle Trackers who help
clean up the beach in the evenings, the beach walkers who share their joy and
pictures of mother or hatchling sightings, and the Coastal Discovery Museum
staff who now prepares and mails all of the certificates and shirts (I finally
stopped trying to do it myself last year!) and who teach and inspire endless
classes of school children, visitors, and locals.
A special
thanks to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources who graciously
provides us with the exciting details of each nest hatch.
The 2020 nest
adoption form is on the museum website www.coastaldiscovery.org, and the sign
ups for next year are underway. I will be at the museum fall market on
Tuesday, November 26 from 10-2. Come on over and see me!
You are each
so special! With thanks until next season –
Well,
the season is winding down – just a few nests left on the beach to hatch.
DNR is gradually sharing the hatch details of each nest with me – I will
forward to you as soon as I receive them.
In
the meantime, a couple of interesting happenings:
*
When doing the inventory on a hatched nest, the sea turtle patrol found a
hatchling with TWO HEADS!!!!!
Needless
to say, this is VERY unusual, but it does happen in reptiles
occasionally. In fact, a nest adopter sent me an article that mentions
our two-headed baby, as well as a two-headed rattlesnake found about the same
time in New Jersey.
Sometimes nature can be just weird!!!
*
The other exciting news is that in addition to the green sea turtle that we
knew about, there was another Green Sea Turtle nest found this season!
Three days after the signs of hatching were noted, the patrol found a green
hatchling needing some help getting out. Two nests in one
year! Unbelievable!
I
will be back in touch after the last nest has hatched and been inventoried –
Well,
the mothers have finished nesting (we think!) but the hatchlings are busily
working their way out of the nests and running to the ocean. 281 of our
nests have hatched – I am in the process of sending out nest results to each
adopter. It has been an amazingly great year for nest success and
emergence success – having no hurricanes so far has helped a lot!!
A
couple of fun happenings on the island:
A
local artist, Mira Scott, has painted a fiberglas sea turtle named Myrtle the
Turtle. Myrtle is temporarily sitting near the Tiki Hut on South Forest
Beach, along with a
reminder of the importance of the sea turtles and the environment that we are
all striving to preserve. Here she is:
We
know that plastic bags are a danger to sea turtles. (When a sea turtle
sees a plastic bag floating in the ocean, they think it is a jelly fish and he
eats it…..not good!) Last year, Hilton Head Town Council voted to ban
single use plastic bags on Hilton Head Island.
This year, Council is taking on the long handled shovels that tourists use to
dig deep holes on the beach, like this:
Hooray!
No more huge beach holes for mother sea turtles, hatchlings and people to fall
into!!
Good
Morning from Hilton Head Island! Here is
a nest greeting the day:
What
a season! As of yesterday, we are up to a record setting 445 nests on the
ocean-facing beaches of Hilton Head Island!
There are another 17 that have been laid during the season on Mitchelville Beach
and Dolphin Head Point on the Port Royal Sound side of the island. There
is some speculation that the higher number this year is because there were lots
of sea turtle mothers who were on cycle to nest last year but didn’t because of
the cold winter (lessened their food source so they could not reproduce.)
They might have joined in the nesting group this year – we will know for sure
after the DNA testing is complete. Whatever the reason, we are enjoying a
great season for sea turtles.
Our
green sea turtle nest is still incubating nicely, waiting to hatch in a few
weeks.
Speaking
of green sea turtles, quite a few of our adopters have been sharing their
experiences with green sea turtles in Hawaii.
There, the turtles come ashore and hang out – it is really amazing!
Not like the greens that we have which nest and leave!
Hawaiian green sea turtles basking in the sun:
This is me with the greens!
Many
of you have asked about your nest hatch results. Three days after a nest
hatches, the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Patrol does an inventory of the
nest. (Lots of nest inventories are happening on the beach – if you are
out VERY early in the morning, watch for the vehicle and observe the
action!) They record and report all the nest egg count and hatch details
to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources which controls the
data. I will then pass the details of your particular nest on to you.
The
Hilton Head Island beach is a busy place right
now: During the day, tourists and locals fill the sand and water with
fun, noise and laughter. But in the night, there are still a few mother
sea turtles coming ashore to nest – and a lot of hatchlings leaving the nest,
racing to the ocean. Everyone on the island is working hard to educate
our beach goers with simple instructions: leave the beach at the end of
the day as you found it! Fill in the holes, flatten the sand castles and
pick up the trash. This is sea turtle territory!!
We
now have more than 430 nests that have appeared on our island – and 24 of them
have already hatched. No one really knows when a nest will hatch – it can
be any time between 45 and 65 days after it was laid. But we do know that
hatchlings prefer to come out in the night – it is cooler, quieter and safer
for them.
Here
is how it happens: more than 100 eggs have been developing under the sand
for almost two months. Gradually, the hatchlings start to break out of
their shells – still under the sand. You can tell that this is happening
when you see a depression in the sand that looks like a bowling ball was
dropped on it – like this:
The
hatchlings don’t just come out one at a time…..they wait until a whole bunch of
them are ready to make a run for it – and lots exit the nest at the same
time. This is called a “boil”. In the Coastal Discovery
Museum, there is a model
of what a nest looks like under the ground during the hatching.
Stop in and see it:
The
hatchlings climb all over each other to get out:
and
then race for the nearest light – which is supposed to be the ocean. (If
people have on lights in their beach front houses, the hatchlings will go that
way and never make it to the ocean….very sad!)
After
a nest has hatched, there are the unmistakable signs of a hole where the
depression was, and lots of beautiful baby turtle tracks coming out of
it.
If
you happen to see a nest hatching, you are very lucky – but PLEASE keep a
distance away, do not take any pictures, and use only a red turtle safe
flashlight. We want to protect every one of those babies!
Hatching
will be happening until 60 days after the last sea turtle nest is laid – we
still have a long season ahead!
In 2016, a
record number of sea turtle nests were laid on Hilton Head Island – 411 of
them……. and that record has now been shattered!! As of this morning, we
are up to 417 nests laid on Hilton Head Island
beaches – and there is still a month left to go in the season. One
mother even came ashore after sunrise today (they generally nest during the
night) and put on a nesting show for the many respectfully distant spectators
who happened to be on the beach at the time. Fantastic year!!
There are
still also lots of false crawls – 296 of those so far:
Interestingly,
tests are being done on each of our sea turtles – without ever touching the
mother! One egg is taken from every nest; the yolk is put in one test
tube and the shell in another. These samples are sent to a lab in Georgia
where the DNA of the mother turtle is tested. From that information, we
then will know where else the mother has nested this season and every season
since this record keeping began more than 10 years ago. Sometimes I am
able to provide that information to adopters about their mother sea turtle –
will keep you posted on that.
Occasionally,
nature needs a little help! When the mother sea turtle lays her eggs in a
place that is too close to the high tide line, the nest is relocated by the Sea
Turtle Patrol to a safer spot. They very carefully remove all the eggs,
dig another similar hole on higher ground, and gently place the eggs into the
new hole:
45% of our
nests have been relocated this year. Amazingly, statistics have shown us
that relocated nests have a higher percentage of success than ones left in
place. Who knew?!
So much
action on our beach this year by this wonderful endangered species!
More news
later –
P.S.
You might have heard the great news that Hilton Head Island has been designated
as the Number ONE
Island in the continental U.S.
for the 4th year in a row!!! Not just the sea turtles are
happy here!
World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated
every year on June 16th Full focus is on the saving of
this endangered species and how we can all help.
And no one can do a better job of telling
the story than the people at the World Wildlife Fund. Here is their list
of
Ten
Things you might not have known about Sea Turtles
(thanks to WWF for sharing this list as directly quoted
below)
1. Turtles don’t have teeth. Instead,
their upper and lower jaws have sheaths made of keratin (the same stuff your
fingernails are made of) that fit onto the skull like a pair of false teeth.
2. Turtle shells are made of over 50
bones fused together – so they’re literally wearing their bones on the
outside.
3.The first few years of a marine turtle’s
life are often referred to as the ‘lost years’. That’s because the time between
when the hatchlings emerge until they return to coastal shallow waters to
forage is incredibly difficult to study. The lost years they spend at sea –
which can be up to 20 years – largely remain a mystery to humans.
4. Sea turtle species vary greatly in size.
The smallest is the Kemp’s Ridley, while the Leatherbacks can weigh more than
1000 pounds! (We have had both nest – one time each – on Hilton Head Island.)
5. It’s estimated that as few as 1 in 1,000
sea turtle eggs will survive to adulthood. And if beaches are strewn with
litter, it can prevent hatchlings reaching the sea.
6. Female leatherbacks make some
interesting noises when they are nesting – some of which sound similar to a
human belch.
7. Turtles seem to prefer red, orange and
yellow colored food. They appear to investigate these colors more than others
when looking for a meal.
8. Sea turtles can migrate long distances
– the known record is a female that swam nearly 13,000 miles over 647 days
from Indonesia to the west coast of the United States!
9. Female sea turtles often return to nest
on the same beach from which they hatched. Sea turtles’ amazing ability to
navigate comes from their sensitivity to the Earth’s magnetic fields.
10. Even with all these amazing features
and adaptations, sea turtles are threatened with extinction! One major
threat to sea turtles is plastic pollution. It is estimated that at leastone sea turtle out
of two has ingested plastic – often mistaking it
for food such as jellyfish. Luckily, Hilton Head
Island has greatly limited by ordinance the use of single-use
plastic bags, and many Hilton Head restaurants have stopped offering plastic
straws.
We can all do something – spread the word –
Happy Sea Turtle Day!
What a
season!!! Just to give you an idea of the numbers, here is the comparison
for numbers of sea turtle nests on Hilton Head Island
in past years –
by June 7th:
2014:
28 nests
2015:
106
2016:
120
2017:
105
2018:
47
2019:
169 NESTS!!!
Wow!
Not only that, but there have been lots of spottings of the mothers on the
beach.
A reminder,
if you see a mother sea turtle, keep a good distance away, do not take flash
pictures, do not distract or bother her in any way.
Often a sea
turtle mother comes ashore and does not nest. We have had 111 false
crawls so far this year – that is a big number! Sometimes she is scared
off,
sometimes she
runs an eroded cliff of sand,
and sometime
she is stopped by unnecessary “stuff” on the beach.
Nests are
being laid on Hilton Head Island like
crazy! Those sea turtle mothers are making up for lost time – and it
looks like they might continue at this rate all season! As of today, we
are well beyond 60 nests – a good number considering that in last year, we did
not even get our first nest until the middle of May!
It is great
fun to see how and where the mother sea turtles nest. These two nests are
just next to each other – like sisters! You can even see the mother’s
tracks from the nest on the right.
In fact, that
nest is directly behind the dune retention fence. She came
in one side and went out the other! Look closely for the signs of the sea
turtle’s nest digging efforts to the right of the orange tape, the the tracks:
This mother
found a safe place between a fence and a storage box!
And here are
the tracks of a mother who took a v-e-r-y long walk on the beach this week,
before she finally settled on a spot near the top of the beach – a long way for
her to crawl……and a long way for her babies to go back to the ocean after
hatching!
And this
morning, a mother left a meandering track as she trudged exhaustedly back to
the ocean:
We have some
VERY creative sea turtles! More news later –
WOW!
Lots of huge surprises for Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle watchers:
The
first sea turtle nesting of the season on Hilton Head
Island was REALLY early in the season – yesterday
morning, April 26th, a mother sea turtle crawled ashore to dig
a hole in the sand and lay her eggs. This is the earliest
nesting in most people’s memory, and is probably due to the warmer than
usual weather recently.
The
sea turtle was a Kemp’s Ridley – the rarest and one of the most
endangered of the sea turtle species! Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are
much smaller than the loggerhead sea turtles which generally nest on
Hilton Head. This is the first time a Kemp’s Ridley has nested on Hilton
Head Island and only the fourth in South
Carolina since record-keeping began.
(Interestingly, another Kemps Ridley beat out ours by laying a nest on Kiawah Island the evening before.)
This
sea turtle mama came ashore in broad daylight! Loggerhead sea
turtle mothers generally come ashore to nest during the night, so spotting
one on Hilton Head is a rare treat. The Kemp’s Ridley is a more of a
daytime nesting creature, so this event gave lots of our beach-going
locals and tourists an amazing show. There is a video of the action
on the Island Packet website. https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/untamed-lowcountry/article229722764.html
Now the
mother has gone back to the ocean, never to visit her nest again. And her eggs
will lie undisturbed in the sand for about 60 days. Hoping for a
successful hatch of our first Kemp’s Ridley!
So we are off
to a great start! Will keep you posted as the season unfolds…..
Spring is here, and summer is closer than ever. That makes it a great time to get outside and spruce up your home’s exterior!
If you’re planning on selling your home soon, a little outdoor maintenance can go a long way. In fact, here are five outdoor projects you can do yourself that are sure to add resale value to your home.
Install a Fire Pit
Imagine spending a warm summer evening out back with your friends, sipping cool drinks and roasting marshmallows over an open fire. The truth is, installing a fire pit is easier than you might think!
A fire pit is made out of fireproof materials and should sit on a flat surface at least 15 feet away from your home and any trees. Here’s a how-to guide for building a backyard fire pit.
Remember, check your local building codes before beginning any type of construction!
Don’t have a yard for a fire pit? Turn your balcony into a cozy dining area instead!
Add Some Outdoor Lighting
Transform your backyard space for summer with lights that add both ambience and security. You can safely add low-voltage lighting to your front or backyard by yourself, even if you don’t have extensive electrical experience.
Whether you opt for motion-activated LED lights or hanging fairy lights, you have some great options to consider for your yard!
Have a nice back deck or balcony? Add some lights to make it a great place to gather any time, day or night.
Fix the Front Door
Your front door should be clean, bright, and welcoming! After all, it’s the first thing potential buyers will see when they enter your home.
There are a couple of different options to freshen up your front door. If it’s very old or damaged, you could replace it altogether. Other options for sprucing up your door include painting it a different color,touching up the paint job, or replacing the doorknob or knocker.
Live in a condo with an interior front door? You can still spruce up your entryway with a nice welcome mat and some potted flowers.
Power Wash the Exterior
Dirty siding on your home can make it look old and neglected, which can be a major turn-off for buyers! A simple solution to get your home’s exterior looking like new is to rent a power washer to take care of any dirt. We recommend renting a heavy-duty, gas-powered pressure washer, as these are the most efficient.
Depending on your home’s specific material (vinyl, stucco, brick, etc.), you will need to obtain a specific type of detergent to power wash your home. Be sure to opt for an environmentally friendly version!
Refresh Your Landscaping
Taking the time to properly maintain your landscaping—and adding a few new features here and there—can both increase your home’s resale value and attract more buyers. After all, real estate is all about the curb appeal!
Installing an attractive stone walkway, mulching your flowerbeds, planting new flowers or shrubbery, and planting trees are all great ways to improve your home’s landscaping.
Don’t have a yard? You can still spruce up your entryway and outdoor areas with potted flowers or hanging planters.
Looking for More Home-Selling Strategies?
We can help you increase your home’s value and get it sold fast. Contact our team today to learn more.
Once you’ve found the perfect home and secured the loan, all that’s left to do is start chipping away at those mortgage payments…right? In actuality, there are a handful of other, often-overlooked expenses that come with buying a home, but as long as you know what you’re getting into, they’re plenty manageable.
Take a look at our comprehensive list of all the costs of buying a home.
One-Time Payments & Closing Costs
Closing Costs
For buyers, closing costs are typically low and range from 2-5% of your purchase price. A lot of these costs are one-time expenses, and totals can vary from state-to-state.
If you want a better idea of what closing costs could be for you, check out this helpful guide on the average payments for each state.
Miscellaneous Fees
There are quite a bit of one-time fees bundled into your closing costs, but most of them are pretty inexpensive. Some of the most common expenses include the home inspection, appraisal, credit report, deed recording, land survey, notary fees, title insurance, and document prep fees.
Recurring Payments
Mortgage Payments
Mortgage payments are the most obvious cost when buying a home. These are your predictable, monthly payments decided by both the final price of your home and your down payment—in addition to a few other bundled costs. A larger down payment means a smaller mortgage payment, and it’s a good idea to pay this off quickly, since it will accumulate interest.
Property Taxes
Property tax payments don’t go towards just one thing—they actually cover quite a bit, like road construction, community maintenance, public works, and local government salaries. The exact amount you’ll pay in property tax is calculated by the county based on your home’s value, and the rates tend to rise and fall over time. Many buyers pay their property taxes through an escrow account set up by the lender.
Homeowner’s Insurance
It’s better to have insurance and not need it than need insurance and not have it, so homeowner’s insurance is pretty crucial to home owning. While it’s almost always required when you get a mortgage and then bundled into your monthly payments, be sure to double-check that you’re covered.
Private Mortgage Insurance
If you can’t afford a 20% down payment on your home, you’ll have to pay PMI as a way to ensure that the lender won’t go under if you default on your loan. You don’t have to pay PMI forever—it ends once you pay off 78% or more of the principal amount—but until then, expect to pay up to 2% of your loan amount annually.
HOA Fees
Moving to a neighborhood with an HOA? Your dues can range anywhere from under a hundred dollars to over a thousand, but they come with perks like landscaping and exterior maintenance, and some even include added benefits like swimming pools and fitness centers. Not all neighborhoods have an HOA, but your agent can tell you what your payments will be if yours does.
Utilities
Lastly, utility fees can come as a surprise to new homeowners who are used to renting. Depending on the size of your home, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars per month for water, electricity, heating and cooling, and trash services. If you’re curious what your utility bills might look like, just ask your agent, and they can likely secure a few statements from the past owners.
Ready to Make an Offer?
When it comes to buying a home, the most important thing you can do is be prepared. While there are a handful of costs to keep in mind, the satisfaction of calling a place your own is well-worth it in the end.
Are you ready to get started on your home-buying journey? With years of professional and local experience, our team knows all about navigating the expenses that come with buying. Give us a call today to get a better idea of your costs, and let’s get started!
In just a few short days, we’ll turn the corner into warmer weather. There’ll be no more cold mornings, flowers will bloom, trees will grow, birds will sing, and it will officially be spring. Okay, maybe the changing of seasons doesn’t work quite so suddenly, but spring does mark the beginning of a notoriously busy home-buying season.
Since buyers are so active during spring, there’s no better time to list your home. But if you want to stand out in the crowded market, you’re going to have to dig deep into some spring cleaning beforehand.
Here are a few things you can do to kickstart your home-selling, spring cleanup process!
Make a Plan
You don’t have to get all of your cleaning done in one day—or even one weekend. All you need is a solid plan, even if it takes you a few weeks to complete. Take a look at what areas in your house need the most work, and get down to planning out nitty-gritty details.
Coordinate your plan by room and move along space by space, leaving nothing but sparkling clean surfaces in your wake.
Get out Stubborn Stains
Maybe you’ve been avoiding cleaning because you know your home has some serious problem areas. Whether it’s getting a years-old stain out of the carpet or returning grungy bathrooms and appliances to their former glory, it’s possible to get out even the worst of stains.
Vinegar, dish soap, warm water, baking soda—these simple household items can get rid of anything from wine stains to mud tracks to coffee spills. All it takes is a little time and some elbow grease!
Try Some Value-Adding Projects
Since you’re already devoting some time and energy to making your home look its best, why not try a few DIY fixes, too? There are tons of small updates that’ll only take up a few hours of your time, but are worth your while when it comes to selling.
From putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls to power washing your siding, all it takes is a quick trip to your local hardware store to make your home look 10/10.
Dig into the Kitchen & Bathroom
It’s no secret that the kitchen and bathroom are the two most important areas to a buyer. So when you’re making your spring cleaning plan, put some extra time and thought into how you can improve these spaces.
In the kitchen, focus on scrubbing every surface—floors, cabinets, countertops, etc.—cleaning out your drain, and polishing up the appliances. For the bathroom, get rid of any mildew or grime discoloration, and put some elbow grease into cleaning the cracks and crevices in the room.
Think Green
Cleaning can introduce a lot of dangerous chemicals into both your home and the area around your home, but using them can sometimes seem unavoidable. If you’re worried about storing and using hazardous materials around your home, there are plenty of safer ways to make your own cleaning products.
In fact, vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, and water can get most of the jobs you need done, and done well. You can also find a few eco-friendly cleaning products at your local grocery store.
Sell Your Home this Spring
Spring is one of the best seasons to sell your home, so don’t miss out on all of the potential buyers browsing the market. If you’re thinking of selling this spring, now is the time to get started.
Contact us to learn more about what you need to do to get your home in top shape for spring selling, and let’s get started with your real estate journey today!
Downsizing can be a great choice for homeowners looking to make a financial or lifestyle change. After all, a smaller amount of space means less money on utility bills and less stress from clutter.
Are you a recent empty-nester? Moving for financial reasons? Or maybe you’ve watched a few episodes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and feel inspired? No matter your motivation, you’re not alone—downsizing has become an increasingly popular trend for homeowners everywhere.
If you’re making the move to a smaller place, here are the top tips for a Marie Kondo-style downsizing experience.
Know What You Have
Walk through your house room by room, and make a detailed list of your belongings. A helpful tip for keeping track? If you aren’t in a rush to downsize, take note of each item and how often you use it over the course of a few weeks or a month. That way, you learn exactly what you’d miss most and what you could go without.
Some downsizers use a color-coded sticker system, some jot notes in a notebook, and some just sort things into piles. Find the method that works best for you, and go from there.
…And What You Don’t Need
Once you’ve found out what items aren’t essentials, it’s time to toss them out. Try to focus on things like duplicate items, such as more than one kitchen utensil, and large collections that have accumulated over the years. To paraphrase the aforementioned organizing consultant Marie Kondo: keep the things that spark joy….but get rid of the rest.
There are plenty of great options for rehoming your unwanted items. Try making a little extra money by selling online, donating things to a good cause, or giving items to friends and family.
Maximize Your Space
When your overall amount of space goes down, you’re required to think of ways to use what you have more efficiently. Storage gadgets such as wall racks, built-in shelves, and pull-out cabinets can tuck belongings out of the way and give you a surprising amount of real estate to work with.
You might also have some furniture that can do double duty. Lots of kitchen or coffee tables either come with or can be customized to include drawers underneath, and bed frames are great for hiding away sliding storage units.
Measure, Measure, Measure
Hopefully, you’ll have a solid idea of the space you’ll be moving into—at least as far as square footage goes—so you’ll know exactly how much room you have for all of your belongings.
Once you know the size of your space, break out the measuring tape, and take note of the dimensions of the furniture you’re bringing along. The last thing you want is to haul your couch all the way to your new home only to discover that it doesn’t fit in the living room.
Ready to Make a Move?
We know that paring down your possessions can be tough, and moving comes with a wide range of emotions. Try taking pictures of the things you’ll miss most, so you can keep the memories around in your new space.
Once you’re ready to get started on your new home search, give our team a call. With years of local experience and a wide range of professional expertise, we’re here to make sure your real estate experience is successful and stress-free.
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