Investment Properties

Many people often ask us if investing in rental property is a wise investment. For long term investment purposes real estate has long been a wise financial investment for people. Unfortunately the economy over the last 2 years has had a tremendous effect on folks and many of the effects are negative resulting in a record number of foreclosures and short sales. As a result of this misfortune there are a number of real estate opportunities that make purchasing a second home or an investment property doable when once before many people could not have afforded such an investment. This is a personal decision and one that folks have to give careful thought and consideration to before taking the plunge. We ourselves recently purchased a condo in Myrtle Beach that we are going to fix up and put into a resort rental program. Our hope of course is that the condo will be rented for several weeks throughout the year especially the summer and hopefully will prove to be a wise investment. Before making the decision to purchase the condo we did the research and considered several options including the pros and cons of investing in rental property at the beach verses purchasing property in the town where we live. Again, the options were very viable, but with the deal we were able to negotiate at the beach it is the route we ultimately decided to invest in. Our hope and goal is to have a successful investment and hopefully in the next several years possibly purchase another investment property. Today the rates are at an all time low and with the assistantance th of real estate professionals there are a number of tremendous deals on the market, but consumers must be well informed and in some cases ready to act quickly. We would love to help all our clients and friends achieve their real estate dreams and it would be our pleasure to help you so give us a call today and let us be your partner in helping all your real estate goals be met.

Call Us For Your Relocation

It is amazing the number of people that continue to relocate to our area with their jobs and to get closer to their family. Many folks relocating to the area are trying to figure out where to live which is typical of anyone moving to a new area. When looking to purchase a home folks should consider distance to work, schools, convenience to many amenities such as shopping, restaurants, hospitals and proximity to interstates. Many newcomers coming to the area will try to figure out on their own even though they don't know much about the area. Since the purchase of a home is one of the largest purchases a person will make it is important to make the right decision. This is where the expertise of a Realtor can be your best bet. Find a fulltime Realtor that is familiar with the area, knows the housing market, knows the available inventory and can even help with referrals to lenders and mortgage companies. We have helped a number of people from all over the country and we have even assisted with several international relocations. It would be our pleasure to meet with you and understand the needs of you and your family and be part of helping you find your perfect home. Give The Guilliams Team a call today.

Time To Get Off The Fence?

If you think you are ready to become a homeowner ask yourself the following questions.

1. Have you researched the market? Knowing what homes are selling for in the area can help you determine how much you should plan to spend.

2. Do you have sufficient savings to cover down payment and closing costs? Expect to have 3% - 20% of the sale price in the bank to cover your down payment, plus another 2% - 7% to cover closing costs.

3. Do you know how much home you can afford? A mortgage payment should not exceed 25% of yur gross monthly earnings. A home that sucks up more than a quarter of your income may lead to financial difficulties.

4. Is your credit report accurate? Inaccuracies on a credit report can cost you higher interest rates. Request your credit report from all three nationwide credit bureaus and report mistakes immediately.

If you answered yes to all these questions - you're ready to consider buying!

Let The Guilliams Team help you find your dream home today!

Remodel and Makeovers for the New Year

As people start out the new year they often visualize changes they want to make in their lives whether it is a remodel of the body, the mind or the home. Sometimes a makeover of the body and mind can be quite challenging, however, a remodel or makeover of a home can be much more simple. First thing is to determine what kind of budget you have to work with on your home remodel. One of the biggest changes you can make to your home with the least expense is paint. Changing and updating paint colors can give your home a brand new look. Don't be afraid to experiment with color because if you don't like the paint color remember it is not permanent and you can always re-paint.
Another great way to change the look of your home without putting out a lot of cash is to update the lighting. We always keep a lookout for stores including the big box stores that have clearance sections on lighting because it is a terriffic way to find deals. Changing out lights can be a great way to update your home and a great tip when buying lamps is to purchase lamps that you can use in different rooms. By doing this you can change out lamps from the bedroom to the den and everyone will think you have done more updates than you really have.
Just like with lamps buy furniture that you can move from room to room. One time I remember wanting to buy a chaise lounge for my bedroom and I remember being advised that a better investment might be a club chair and ottoman. This ended up being smart because I could use the chair and ottoman in the sunroom, den, kitchen or bedroom. Be smart when making purchases and try to purchase to use for multiple purposes.
As you can see there are simple changes that you can make that are inexpensive and there are other changes that can be made that are more of an investment. Be smart, be brave and have fun with the changes you want to make. It is your home and it should reflect your style and taste and what brings comfort to you and your family.