Enhance Your Well-Being: Nurse Your Sick Home Back to Health

An article by Charles Furlough, which can be found here.

RISMEDIA, October 27, 2010—A new home may have freshly painted shutters, a picket fence around it, and rainbow-colored flower patches leading to the candy-red door. But if the air quality isn’t good inside, those exterior niceties become insignificant—and—quite simply, you could get sick. “Sick building syndrome” (a term typically reserved for office buildings, but often interchangeably used with the term “sick house syndrome” when referring to private homes) is a combination of physical ailments—symptoms often include headaches, loss of concentration, general malaise and breathing problems. The cause: poor indoor air quality. Read more

South Carolina Buyers, Don’t Forget About the Property Tax…

(This article appeared in The State newspaper on Sunday, October 24, 2010. To see the original article, please click here.)

S.C.’s Unhappy Homeowners

A growing number of them are complaining that prices have fallen but assessments that determine property tax levels have not

By KRISTY EPPLEY RUPON, – The State

Thomas Stanek got a great deal on a foreclosure in Blythewood last year: He paid $419,000 for a 4,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home that sold for $749,000 just three years earlier.

Normally, property tax values are set at the latest home-sale price — that’s how it worked as real estate values soared just a few years ago.

But instead of getting a tax break, Stanek got sticker shock.

His latest Richland County tax bill valued the home at $710,000 — 41 percent more than the sales price. That difference forced him to pay $2,000 more in taxes than if the home was valued at his purchase price. Read more

House of the Week – 2723 Monroe Street

2723 Monroe Street

Columbia, SC 29205

Listing Price: $209,900
Square Footage: 1,400
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1

2723 Monroe Street is a charming house in the popular Shandon area. This home is a newly renovated home featuring fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors, new light fixtures, and an updated fireplace with black marble tile and an elegant mantle. The bathroom has received a face lift with a new sink, faucet, cabinet and toilet. The backyard is very large and re-landscaped with new sod. A closet in the hallway has been expanded and now houses the washer and dryer, which were previously in the kitchen. And the most noticeable update is the gorgeous kitchen. The kitchen now features beautiful Travertine tile floors, custom cabinets, granite counter tops, Travertine tile back splash, and stainless steel appliances.

This house is located just minutes from downtown Columbia, and lots of great activities. Downtown Columbia is home to 5 Points and the Vista, which feature great shopping and restaurants, as well as the large 14 acre Finaly Park and the very scenic Riverfront Park. The sports enthusiasts can enjoy the many athletic events going on at the University of South Carolina, which is located downtown. One can also enjoy performances at the Colonial Life Arena, the Koger Center, or the Township Auditorium. Also located downtown are the South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture Children’s Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, the Riverbanks Zoo, as well as the Botanical Gardens. About 15 minutes north of downtown is Lake Murray, a 50,000 acre lake. Of course, with Columbia at the heart of South Carolina, one is only a short drive to the mountains or the beach!

2723 Monroe Street is located on a street lined with beautiful oaks. And with all of it’s updates, it is now move in ready for anyone! If you are interested, please contact us.

Please visit this link to see pictures and a walk through video of 2723 Monroe Street.

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The Mather Company is a real estate company in Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, West Columbia, Caycee, Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Lake Murray, and Blythewood areas. Our company is knowledgeable of the real estate market in and around Columbia, SC. We help our clients buy and sell homes. We also work with investors by informing them about great deals, as well as over seeing the renovation of investment homes. Whether this is your frist time buying or selling a home, or a veteran at the game, The Mather Company would love to help you get the job done. We have a proven track record which can be seen by viewing our testimonies. Please contact us and let us know how we can help you and your real estate needs.

House of the Week – 2723 Monroe Street

2723 Monroe Street

Columbia, SC 29205

Listing Price: $209,900
Square Footage: 1,400
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Read more

Mortgage Rates Fall to Another Record Low

An article by Mark H. Tibshrany with Bank of America Mortgage

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to 4.19 percent, the lowest level in decades. They were pushed down by lower Treasury bond yields. Investors are buying up Treasury bonds in anticipation of a move by the Federal Reserve designed to lower mortgage rates and yields on corporate debt.

As a result, the average rate for 30-year fixed loans dropped to the lowest level on records dating back to 1971, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. It’s down from 4.27 percent last week. Read more

Majority of Americans Continue to Believe Housing is Safe Investment

This article can be found here.

RISMEDIA, October 12, 2010—Fannie Mae’s latest national housing survey finds that most Americans believe the housing market has reached the bottom, but they are more cautious about owning a home. Respondents to the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey believe that home prices will hold steady (47%) or increase (31%) over the next year, and that rental prices will stay the same (46%) or go up (39%). Across the general population, the average expected rise in rental prices is four times that of home prices (3.6% versus 0.9%).

Seventy percent of Americans think it is a good time to buy a house, compared with 64% in a similar survey conducted in January 2010. But 33%—up from 30%—of all respondents said they would be more likely to rent their next home if they were to move. Read more

House of the Week – 13 Foxwood Knoll

13 Foxwood Knoll

Blythewood, SC 29016

Listing Price: $498,000
Square Footage: 5,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4.5

13 Foxwood Knoll is a beautiful, large home, tucked away on a cul-de-sac in the popular LongCreek Plantation neighborhood. This home has 5 bedrooms plus a private FROG. The master suite is located on the main floor. The sellers added a stunning sunroom that stretches the entire length of the back of the house, and provides a private entrance to the master bedroom. The kitchen is huge, and has a large island and eat-in seating area. The fully finished basement is loads of fun! It features a large den/pool room, fireplace, bar area, as well as 2 bedrooms. The backyard backs up to a pond and a park.

Being in LongCreek Plantation the homeowner will get to enjoy the many wonderful amenities LongCreek has to offer. First is the Windermere club and golf course. One can enjoy playing a round of golf on this 18 hole course, followed by time with friends in the bar and restaurant. LongCreek Plantation also features a state of the art tennis facility. This tennis facility includes 6 Hydro-courts (sub-irrigated clay) and four covered courts with the Nova Sport surface. There is also the LongCreek Equestrian Centre, where horse lovers can train, ride and even board. For those wanting to take a dip on a hot summer day, one can enjoy the junior-Olympic sized pool, or one can head out onto the 150 acre lake which is at the heart of LongCreek and enjoy canoeing, sailing, or fishing. Finally, for those wanting to enjoy a night out, one is only a 15 minute drive from the Village at Sandhills, which offers a movie theater and lots of shopping and restaurants.

13 Foxwood Knoll is a beautiful home, and being tucked away provides great privacy, yet is still so close to wonderful activities, shopping and restaurants. If you are interested, please contact us.

To see a video walk through and pictures of this home, please use this link.

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The Mather Company is a real estate company in Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Lake Murray, and Blythewood areas. Our company is knowledgeable of the real estate market in and around Columbia, SC. We help our clients buy and sell homes. We also work with investors by informing them about great deals, as well as over seeing the renovation of investment homes. Whether this is your frist time buying or selling a home, or a veteran at the game, The Mather Company would love to help you get the job done. We have a proven track record which can be seen by viewing our testimonies. Please contact us and let us know how we can help you and your real estate needs.

House of the Week – 13 Foxwood Knoll

13 Foxwood Knoll

Blythewood, SC 29016

Listing Price: $498,000
Square Footage: 5,000
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4.5

Read more

House of the Week – 2723 Monroe Street

2723 Monroe Street

Columbia, SC 29205

Listing Price: $209,900
Square Footage: 1,400
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1

2723 Monroe Street is a charming house in the popular Shandon area. This home is a newly renovated home featuring fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors, new light fixtures, and an updated fireplace with black marble tile and an elegant mantle. The bathroom has received a face lift with a new sink, faucet, cabinet and toilet. The backyard is very large and re-landscaped with new sod. A closet in the hallway has been expanded and now houses the washer and dryer, which were previously in the kitchen. And the most noticeable update is the gorgeous kitchen. The kitchen now features beautiful Travertine tile floors, custom cabinets, granite counter tops, Travertine tile back splash, and stainless steel appliances.

This house is located just minutes from downtown Columbia, and lots of great activities. Downtown Columbia is home to 5 Points and the Vista, which feature great shopping and restaurants, as well as the large 14 acre Finaly Park and the very scenic Riverfront Park. The sports enthusiasts can enjoy the many athletic events going on at the University of South Carolina, which is located downtown. One can also enjoy performances at the Colonial Life Arena, the Koger Center, or the Township Auditorium. Also located downtown are the South Carolina State Museum, EdVenture Children’s Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, the Riverbanks Zoo, as well as the Botanical Gardens. About 15 minutes north of downtown is Lake Murray, a 50,000 acre lake. Of course, with Columbia at the heart of South Carolina, one is only a short drive to the mountains or the beach!

2723 Monroe Street is located on a street lined with beautiful oaks. And with all of it’s updates, it is now move in ready for anyone! If you are interested, please contact us.

Please visit this link to see pictures and a walk through video of 2723 Monroe Street.

---

The Mather Company is a real estate company in Columbia, South Carolina and serves the Columbia, West Columbia, Caycee, Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Lake Murray, and Blythewood areas. Our company is knowledgeable of the real estate market in and around Columbia, SC. We help our clients buy and sell homes. We also work with investors by informing them about great deals, as well as over seeing the renovation of investment homes. Whether this is your frist time buying or selling a home, or a veteran at the game, The Mather Company would love to help you get the job done. We have a proven track record which can be seen by viewing our testimonies. Please contact us and let us know how we can help you and your real estate needs.

Tip for Sellers – Considering a Short Sale? What to Keep In Mind as You Begin the Process…

The following article is by Jim Wasserman
The article can be found here

RISMEDIA, September 23, 2010—(MCT)—Bill Joyce starts every short sale journey with “The Speech.” In a what’s-ahead warning to home buyers, the Roseville real estate broker promises prospective buyers that they will be tested and tortured. They will endure privations beyond all expectations. And then they might fail.

“All the things you normally expect are suspended,” Joyce says of changes sweeping across the distressed housing market. “There’s a new set of rules that apply here.”

That’s because short sales are back—and bigger even than during the troubled 1990s. Read more

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