Reprinted from Charlotte Observer August 22, 2009

Charlotte-area home prices continued a slow creep upward in June, according to a closely watched index released this morning.

Area sales prices remain in negative territory compared with a year ago, but rose .7 percent from May to June, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. While that was down slightly from the previous month’s uptick, it was the third monthly gain in four months and further evidence prices are stabilizing.

The increase comes as the broader index of 20 metropolitan areas also has been improving.

“For the second month in a row, we’re seeing some positive signs,” said David Blitzer, chairman of S&P’s index committee, adding “there are hints of an upward turn from a bottom.”

Home prices and sales remain well off their highs, locally and nationwide, but today’s Case-Shiller reading adds to a growing list of small improvements.

The index is especially meaningful because it tracks repeat sales of existing houses, the most precise broad measure of how home values are adding up. Charlotte’s run of rising values outlasted the 19 other markets for a long time. But in April 2008, the region turned to losses. This March, Charlotte saw a tiny gain, followed by an April decline and now two consecutive months of gains.

Charlotte’s prices compared with a year ago also improved, moving out of double digit losses, to a 9.6 percent decline. That remained the fifth smallest decline of the group.

Compared with a year ago, all 20 of the index’s markets remain down. But 18 areas had positively monthly gains in June, up from 13 in May. Phoenix, long the most depressed market, saw a monthly gain. Las Vegas registered the biggest monthly loss, which pushed it into last place, with prices down 32.4 percent from a year ago.

A Lender, Lawyer and Leader answer a frequently asked question.

Are we seeing glimpses of a recovering local real estate market?  Is it a seasonal difference?

Gooden + Faircloth asked three Mt Pleasant real estate industry authorities the same question our team is asked virtually everyday, “How’s the local real estate market?”

Read the rest of this entry

Rebecca and I are happy to offer a new high-tech Mt Pleasant and Greater Charleston home search tool to our website.

@HomeSearch allows you to search for homes in the Mt Pleasant and Greater Charleston area through a truly user-friendly interface.   Read the rest of this entry

I’m feeling pretty positive having concluded the sale of one of my personal properties in Florida, not an easy task in that way overly saturated market. The condo canyon walls get further up and down the intracoastal and higher by the quarter.

I’ll miss the Miami / Ft Lauderdale area but since purchasing this particular home, the number of shiny new 40 story high-rises which have gone up in the neighborhood is staggering, and problematically gluttonous.

I tell you this because we used some impressive new techniques and services to successfully sell this unit.   The same techniques are being utilized for our clients at Gooden+Faircloth.

To sell the Florida condo, I credit techno-marketing techniques and services.  We attracted a goodly number of buyers to visit and sure enough one of them ( only takes one ) made an reasonable offer.  The condo sold after about 90 days on the market.  We did the right things from staging to pricing to the ‘ techno-marketing ‘.

At Gooden + Faircloth, we’ve chosen to focus on high tech approaches to marketing homes.  It makes dollars, cents and sense since 80% of buyers sensibly begin their search by adding a few search words in the Google box upper right.

I need those searching souls to discover our listings ASAP.   I want other realtors, especially those with buyer clients, to also land enthusiastically on my listings whether they do so via Google, youtube, Point2, Trulia, Zillow, Realtor . com or an email from me sitting in their Inbox.

A home is not a home….

My listing clients are placing in our team the responsibility to manage the marketing of a million dollar piece of real estate.   As a result,  I strongly believe in branding.  Our listings are given a complete once over.  From that review comes a well-conceived, dynamite package of images, videos, descriptions clarity of direction, all consolidated into a package with a powerful punch.

So, can you improve your chances of a successful home sale?

In today’s difficult market with a bloated ( and foreclosed ) MLS inventory, we have to look for any edge to help sell a home.  So what gives  you an edge?

Anyone can live in it, but can they sell it?

There are several factors to consider when you make that decision to sell your home.  In all likelihood, your home will not be the only one of its type on the market, maybe not even on your street.  Therefore, the marketing for your home has to be hitting on all cylinders, or else.

There are several ways to improve your properly priced home’s appeal and sell-ability.

Location is an important factor when it comes time to sell, but you can’t control that, so concentrate on the other factors – sales price, condition of your home, light remodeling, marketing, and incentives/sales terms.

Marketing is incredibly important when you are selling your home.  The more people who know about your home, the better chance there is that the perfect buyer will come along.

If you actively address all key factors, your home should be in a good position to positively appeal to buyers.  Though the current real estate market is a rough sea,  those who get the right people rowing at the right time will land on solid ground.

2008-2009 Seaside Farms Real Estate Sales Report

Seaside Farms is one of coastal South Carolina’s most popular neighborhoods.  Nestled up to the intracoastal and marsh expanse separating mainland Mount Pleasant,SC and Isle Of Palms on the barrier islands, Seaside Farms is actually several beautiful neighborhoods.   Enjoy a closer look at Seaside Farms in the video tour below.

Gooden+Faircloth has compiled 2008 real estate sales data into the new Seaside Farms Real Estate Report 2008/2009.

The highest priced home sold over the past 12 months was in the Cathedral Oaks neighborhood.  1712 Canyon sold for $ 1,175,000 or $ 285 per square foot.

Over the past 12 months, homes averaged remaining on the market from a low of 127 days in Magnolia Woods to a high of 207 days in Windward / Marais.

Click here to learn more.