AboutSharon Wilkerson Expertise I can answer questions on residential real estate whether they concern buying or selling, 1031 exchanges, or investment property/vacation property. I can answer some questions on South Carolina law concerning the aforementioned property type sales. I cannot answer questions concerning commercial property.
Experience I am a realtor in the Charleston, SC, area which is an historic seaport town on the coast located between Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. I have serviced both buyers and sellers from those looking to purchase their very first home to those looking for a place to retire. I have a network of realtors around the South Carolina area with whom I am in touch concerning the South Carolina real estate market.
Organizations The Charleston Tri-county Association of Realtors; The South Carolina Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors; Women at Work; The National Conservancy; Daughters of the American Revolution
Education/Credentials BA degree in Business and BA degree in Theatre Arts
Expert: Sharon Wilkerson Date: 9/3/2007 Subject: MYRTLE BEACH HOME FOR SALE
Question DEAR SHARON;
IS THE REAL ESTATE INVESTOR POOL COMPLETELY DRIED UP? I HAVE MY HOUSE LISTED FOR 259,900 THROUGH WEICHERT. IT IS A D R HORTON HOME ONLY 9MO. OLD, 2 STORY, 4BR,2.5BA CLOSE TO AIRPORT/BEACH/MARKET COMMONS WITH ALL THE UPGRADES AND AMENITIES. IT HAS SAT FOR 4MONTHS WITH NO OFFERS OR SERIOUS LOOKERS!! I THOUGHT AN INVESTOR WOULD LIKE IT AS IT COULD BE BOUGHT, THEN, RENTED ($12-1400) AND SOLD FOR PROFIT WHEN MARKET GOES BACK UP?? I NEED TO LEAVE SOON AS I HAVE BEEN JOB TRANSFERRED TO ATLANTA...WHAT GIVES?? THE HOME AND AREA IS GREAT..WE WILL HAVE A POOL/VOLLEY BALL /SOCCER OF OUR OWN, AS WELL PLUS WHAT MB HAS TO OFFER?? THANK YOU
Answer It sounds like you have a nice home, well located, and well priced, but I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly why it hasn't sold without looking at it first. However, I can tell you that right now the entire country is experiencing a buyers market meaning that there are way too many homes for sale and not nearly enough buyers. To get a home sold quickly these days takes a combination of marketing techniques: pricing your home slightly under what similar homes are going for; adding incentives such as paying $X amount towards closing costs; and staging your home to look like a model home which may include painting, new carpet, packing up collectibles and personal pictures, etc. Now is not the time to try and save money by bypassing the real estate agent. There are so many houses on the market that realtors can pick and choose the houses their clients see and that means they are looking closely at who the other agent is (some have notorious reps for being stupid and difficult to work with), what the co-commission is, what incentives are being offered to their buyer, all in addition to "is this property a good fit for my buyer." It is not a good place for a seller right now but it is not impossible to sell your property within a reasonable period of six to nine months.
Therefore, I suggest the following: 1. Work with a real estate agent who has a good reputation for getting properties sold. Interview realtors and ask them how many properties they have listed and sold in the last nine to twelve months. 2. Hire a Home Stager or Interior Decorator to come in and prepare the home for sale. (Staged homes sell faster and for more money.) 3. Listen to your real estate agent...price your home to sell and offer incentives.
