Saturday, October 18, 2014

Seabrook Island Real Estate Near Charleston


A luxurious island retreat with a history steeped in philanthropic generosity, Seabrook Island is sure to tug at your heartstrings. In 1666, the first British explorer Lt. Col. Robert Sanford arrived on Seabrook Island, then occupied by the Stono Indian tribe. By 1684, the tribe ceded their land holdings to the English government and English settlement began with cotton, indigo, and rice plantations rising above the landscape.

British and Hessian troops utilized the island as a staging area during the American Revolution. After a series of different owners who used the island for everything from farming to a sportsman's hunting getaway, 1939 saw the island take on a more noble purpose when the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina rented land establishing a camp for underprivileged youths.

In 1951, that noble purpose became firmly entrenched when 1,408 acres of land were given to the church for the continuance of the camp. That spirit of a giving and caring community continues today, with a great number of the residential areas peacefully situated on the land the church sold for development in 1970.

Boasting some of the widest beaches available for East Coast barrier island real estate, an investment on Seabrook Island is a wise and sturdy legacy ensuring generations will enjoy the fun and sun of this beautiful island. The Seabrook Island Property Owners Association is deepening that lasting legacy by requiring homeowners to live in harmony with the ecosystem of the island, a distinction earning them the prestigious Audubon International Green Community Award. Diverse wildlife populations of deer, dolphin, and a plethora of birds live in beautifully preserved marshland and oceanic habitats. Operating as a Township, the island is not threatened by annexation by nearby Charleston.

The Seabrook Island Club is truly the heart of this beautiful community. Its two golf courses hold the distinction of being certified as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. It is also the home of the Seabrook Island Tennis Center. Consistently ranked among the top 25 tennis facilities in the United States, residents can follow up a bracing game of tennis with a relaxing swim in the facility's crystal clear pools or with a workout in the 26,000 square foot fitness center.

Villas, townhomes, and single family homes are available in settings ranging from a golf course to a marshland or oceanfront view.  If you wish to expand your creative outlets to include home design, new construction lots are also available. Real estate prices in this exclusive gated resort range from $200,000 for a condo to several million for a single family home, but the only place to rival the lifestyle of leisure and luxury offered on Seabrook Island is the Florida Keys. Visit our website to see the available real estate on Seabrook Island, or contact us at (843) 871-1710 to schedule a tour!  We have no doubt it will call to your heart!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

North Charleston Real Estate


"Perseverence-Progress-Prosperity" A rather impressive town motto that truly fits North Charleston.

Archdale Hall, Tranquil Hill Plantation, White Hall Plantation, Oak Hill Plantation, Windsor Hill Plantation, Marshlands, Mons Repos, Retreat Plantation, Elms Plantation and Camp Plantation were powerhouses of huge land owners specializing in the growth of cotton, indigo, and rice.


The famed French botanist Andre Michaux owned French Botanical Garden, a small plantation devoted to his botanical study. All of these areas persevered from the Colonial Period through the end of the Civil War. Loss of the slave labor force freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and Union victory lead to the demise of the plantation system.

Enter progress. Industry, once shunned as uncivilized by the southern population, eased its way into this area that was once reserved for the gentleman farmer. Phosphate mining for fertilizer, naval shipbuilding, asbestos, rubber, and lumbering allowed this community not only to survive Reconstruction, but to come out the other side as a thriving, prosperous, successful community with a solid base in commerce. Today's Charleston International Airport and Boeing Aircraft industry demonstrate the city's continued committment to progress that ultimately leads to continued prosperity.

  
Access to water sports, a plethora of retail shopping areas, fishing pursuits, great golfing, top notch medical care, and entertainment ranging from rock and roll to Broadway with its coliseum and Performing Arts Center make North Charleston THE place to be! If you think that variety is exciting, wait until we show you the range of real estate awaiting you here!

Looking for a small condo or home to begin your progress?  Or maybe a multimillion dollar river or oceanfront estate to revel in your prosperity? Browse our website for available homes for sale in North Charleston. The perseverence on our part to find you that perfect property will make you glad you chose us to help!

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Making Your Home on the Isle of Palms in South Carolina

Homes and Condos for Sale on the Isle of Palms


What do the H. L. Hunley, shipwreck diving, and beach volleyball have in common?  Why, the seven miles of beautiful island that is Isle of Palms, of course!  

Originally inhabited by the Seewee Indian tribe, the Isle of Palms has a rich agricultural history. By the 1800s, the affluent residents of Charleston began frequenting the breezy open island to escape from the oppressive summer heat & swamp fever of the city. The island received its name in 1899 when developers moved in to seize on its popularity as a vacation spot, building hotels to house the vacationers in style.

Amusement and pavilion facilities began to appear on the island to provide visitors with recreational opportunities. The Civil War kicked Isle of Palms' historical significance up into the stratosphere. The first combat submarine to sink a warship, the H.L. Hunley, was launched from Breach Inlet between Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island.


This magnificent piece of Confederate Civil War History is now available for viewing by the general public as well as artifacts recovered from the wreckage by travelling an easy day trip fom Isle of Palms over to Charleston.  The acclaimed pioneer of underwater archaeology, E. Lee Spence revealed and explored the locations of many blockade runner shipwreck sites along Isle of Palms.

His discovery and recovery of artifacts from the Rattlesnake, Mary Bowers, Stonewall Jackson, Norseman, Constance, and the infamous iron-clad Georgiana have proven invaluable to the understanding of Confederate blockade running tactics, ship design, and history. The Georgiana rests a mere five feet below the surface, and skin diving enthusiasts can easily reach and explore her on clear days by simply holding their breath!  

The sea is rich with enough sea bass, flounder and grouper to thrill the fishing enthusiast.  Water sport opportunities for boating, tubing, jet skiing, and water skiing are plentiful with Isle of Palms' prime location nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean. Beach volleyball is very popular on Isle of Palms, with the Windjammer Club providing the perfect backdrop for this fun in the sand sport. The exclusive and richly beautiful Wild Dunes Resort is also located on Isle of Palms.



Isle of Palms offers a hodgepodge of real estate variety from condos, to brick ranch homes dating to the post World War II affordable housing boom, to magnificent oceanfront estate homes - as well as property available in the much coveted and admired Wild Dunes Resort. Prices are as varied as the type of home you seek and can range from a $120,000 condo to a multi-million dollar oceanfront mansion.

Visit our website for a list of homes for sale on the Isle of Palms, or contact us today and let us show you the wonder and majesty of island living!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Elegance and Exclusivity at Vista del Mar in Grande Dunes


The Condos at Vista del Mar Myrtle Beach


Have you heard of Vista Del Mar in Myrtle Beach?

Of course not, Vista Del Mar is an exclusive condo community located in the Grande Dunes section of Myrtle Beach. These condos are considered the most luxurious condos along the Grand Strand.

Vista Del Mar is hidden behind a gated entrance near the popular Dunes Club community and golf course. The Mediterranean style buildings offer unmatched amenities as well as the high quality interior touches that are expected when only the best will do. There are many different floor plans to choose from offering the opportunity to make this your primary residence or a second home that you will want to visit often.

The condos are very spacious and offer the best ocean front views you can find along the Myrtle Beach area. When you become an owner at Vista Del Mar, you also receive a membership to all the amenities at the Ocean Club Grande Dunes.

There are plenty of condos you can choose along the Grand Strand yet none of them will compare to Vista Del Mar. If you would like to schedule a private viewing of the units available, please contact one of the Century 21 The Harrelson Group agents. We will be glad to take you a tour of the property as well as look at the various floor plans that are currently offered.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Living on Folly Beach SC

Folly Beach Real Estate


In old English, a folly was an area of dense vegetation- clean and unspoiled. That is just the right description for the beautiful island that is Folly Beach with its lush and appealing landscape. It is an island rich in a varied and fiercely independent minded history that has helped shape it into the vibrant community we know today.

The earliest record of Folly dates from 1696 when it was deeded as a royal grant. The island was at first a favorite of pirates such as Stede Bonnet and Black Beard! It was also known for its shipwrecks, including the brig Amelia. Once commonly referred to as Coffin Island, Folly Island was one of several barrier islands where ships were required to deposit sick passengers before moving into Charleston Harbor, thereby reducing the risk of disease epidemics there. On their trip out of the harbor, ships would stop and pick up those passengers that were still alive and lay to rest those that did not survive. Macabre beginnings no doubt, but its location would thankfully lend itself to a much brighter future.

The original pavilion was built in the 1920s, and rumors abounded that Folly was a hideout and drop off for Lowcountry bootleggers during that age of Prohibition. George Gershwin was drawn to the island and in 1934, he wrote the musical Porgy and Bess and the classic line “Summertime, and the living is easy,” while staying there.

Being the closest beach to the heart of Charleston (just 10 miles away), it was only natural that Folly Beach would ultimately develop into a playground instead of a cemetery. Known by Charlestonians as “the edge of America,” Folly Beach is home to numerous surf spots including the "Washout". Despite its normally calm oceanic conditions, the Washout has helped Folly Beach gain prominence as a more popular surf spot on the East Coast.

Do not be fooled, Folly Beach is for more than the surf's up crowd! It has developed into a very eclectic community welcoming all types of individuals from bird-watchers and fishermen to kite-boarders, kayakers to sunbathers and beach-combers.  Folly Island served as a camp for Union troops beginning in late 1863. Even ghost hunter enthusiasts can find a rich haunting history nearby in Charleston and the other local islands, with walking tours offered from several local businesses.  Its bohemian atmosphere, classic beach downtown area, history, and stunning natural beauty beckon and welcome all types of beach lovers who wish to call the South Carolina coast their home.


Six miles of beautiful beaches, and endless miles of river, marsh, tidal creek and Intracoastal Waterway properties provide endless backdrops and beautiful scenery for homes, condos, villas and townhomes.  Folly Beach has become a long-standing favorite destination for returning vacationers due to its variety of surf and gift shops, restaurants, offices, and night spots, the island offers some of South Carolina's best values in coastal property for both the vacation investor as well as potential resident.

Come experience the area on our Folly Beach web page, and see the available property for sale. Or call us at (843) 871-1710.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Wadmalaw Island - Escape the Hustle and Bustle

Wadmalaw Island Real Estate


Wadmalaw Island SC has a rich history that began with Captain Robert Sandford and the crew of the Berkeley Bay carrying out the ritual of turf and twig to claim the land for England in 1666. Four years later, the first colonists arrived and began the island's rich agricultural history. Wadmalaw Island's tomatoes are known throughout the United States for their rich flavor, and the tea produced here is so fine that the White House serves it to the President and visiting dignitaries and guests!  
It has a rich history in sailing, beginning with the first sailing regatta there in 1890 inviting the weathy to the island to display their sailing skills and relax. 
What about the tea, you ask? Well, the island's history in this universally beloved beverage began when the Lipton Tea Company began an experimental tea plantation there in 1960. In 1987 Lipton sold the plantation to Mack Fleming and Bill Hall who formed The Charleston Tea Plantation, using a converted cotton picker and tobacco harvester to harvest the tea leaves. It is now the last working tea farm in the United States and tours are offered so that visitors can experience this unique agricultural site for themselves and partake of its marvelous crop. 

If tea isn't your cup of tea, do not despair!  Wine tasting is offered at Irvin House Vineyards, and Firefly Distillery also offers tours of its facility that produces a sweet tea vodka called Firefly.  Family farms with a pick and pay system offer wonderful seasonal fruits and vegetables in season.  
Real estate prices range from $30,000 for a vacant lot to more than $3.5 million for finished homes. The beautiful landscape dotted with rivers, creeks, and marshland is being preserved thanks to strict environmental guidelines for new homes that ensure development and nature can co-exist peacefully.

Wildlife and bird watching opportunities abound, and the fishing pursuits are seemingly endless.  Couple that with opportunities for water sports and equestrian activities, and you have an island paradise with endless outdoor pursuits. A close proximity to Charleston enables conveniences of a big city while living or vacationing away from the limelight.
Come join us for a tour of  Wadmalaw Island homes! Your cup may run over from the endless possibilities here!  

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

All About Daniel Island in Charleston!


Daniel Island Real Estate

Nestled snugly between the Cooper and Wando Rivers, Daniel Island may hold Charleston's last untamed wilderness.  Named for who was once its sole occupant and former governor of the Carolinas, Robert Daniell, the island existed mainly as a farm, cattle ranch, and hunting area after his death when it was owned by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation.

Daniel Island would likely have remained undisturbed if not for the construction of the I-526 Expressway. Seeing the writing on the wall in terms of desirability of the island for residential and business development, the foundation formed a plan for development that would allow for the growth of an affluent Charlestonian suburb while preserving the island's rich natural beauty and wildlife for generations of future residents.

The sale of the island to the Daniel Island Company in 1997 ensured that this plan would be held to its highest standard.  Of first and foremost importance to this plan was easy accessibility to the island's natural majesty. The developers have been cited for their "smart growth" approach including a highly coveted Award For Excellence from the Urban Land Institute in 2007.

The creation of eight large parks - Barfield, Cochran, Center, Daniel Island, Smythe, Codner's Ferry, Etiwan, and Pierce - guarantees that every residential development on Daniel Island has access to its very own park. In these hundreds of acres of parks residents can see the beautiful wood storks, herons, egrets and other wildlife such as deer and otter that make Daniel Island their home too.

If golf suits you to a tee, hold on to your cleats, because Daniel Island is home to the Daniel Island Club!  Host to the Nationwide Tour Championship, the club boasts of courses designed by Rees Jones and Tom Fazio.  If tennis or soccer are more your calling, then you'll be in "love" with the professional Family Circle Tennis Center and within site of the "GOAL" at Blackbaud Stadium!

Far from its isolated past, Daniel Island has a thriving downtown business area with a multitude of shops, restaurants, local businesses, and medical offices. The two churches and excellent schools bode for a solid family friendly community.  The style or price of real estate on Daniel Island is as varied as can be.

Downtown condos or townhomes, single family homes, marshland views, riverfront views, tidal creek areas, and multi-million dollar estates all make up the beautifully planned developments on Daniel Island. If you do not see what you like, don't despair! New home sites are available and start at the $150,000 range. Prices for existing homes range from a condo for $200,000s to single family homes in the $300,000s to luxury condos and estates for $2 to $6 million. Contact us today to explore the natural beauty of a home on Daniel Island!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Magnolia Place - 4635 Wild Iris Dr Unit 4-202 Myrtle Beach

We have a condo for sale in one of Myrtle Beach's popular complexes  Magnolia Place!



4635 Wild Iris Drive unit 4-202
Magnolia Place Condos
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
$75,500

1 bedroom, 1.5 bath 700 square feet, 2nd floor unit on lake in Magnolia Place

This condo has a beautiful view of the lake from the balcony and large living room window.

Enjoy this peaceful golf community located within Myrtlewood Golf Course.

Along with the golf course this community offers a driving range, outdoor pool, beautiful walking and biking and is conveniently located close to beach, Broadway at the Beach and all of the shopping, dining, entertainment the Grand Strand has to offer.

For more information about this condo for sale in Myrtle Beach, contact us through our website, or use our MLS Search tool to find a list of homes you'd like to see!

Featured Home for Sale! 905 Adeline Ct, Arrowhead, Myrtle Beach

Beautiful home in one of the most popular subdivisions with all the amenities!


905 Adaline Ct
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579

Single family home in Arrowhead Community, Myrtle Beach
4 bedroom, 3 Bath $274,900

Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home located on a quiet cul-de-sac in the popular golf community of Arrow head. A spacious open floor plan with split bedroom plan and extras that include wood floors in the living areas, coffered ceilings, a warm and cozy gas fireplace and ceiling fans throughout. Arrowhead's amenities include a pool area, children's playground, walking paths, tennis courts, a beautiful golf course community and more! Conveniently located close to all the area has to offer shopping, dining, entertainment, medical facilities, the airport, ICW and is just a short drive to the beach, yet is out of the busy hustle & bustle of the beach!

For more information about this home contact us through our website, or use our MLS Search tool to find a list of homes you'd like to see!

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Rental Property - Keep Your Income and Give Away the Expense

Baywatch Resort Condos for Sale

If you own a vacation rental property and want to sell, you may find yourself in a dilemma.
Two things typically said by Vacation Property Owners’

1) I just carried the property through the winter and had to pay a bunch of negative cash flow.

2) I don’t want to sell in the summer because I want to keep the positive cash flow for myself.


Here is the dilemma:


Seller: I want to sell but need to recoup the negative income of the winter by renting in the summer.


Buyer: I want to buy the property in the summer so I can have some extra cashflow to carry the property through the winter.


 My Goal for the Seller:


1) Maximize price
2) Collect the Summer Income
3) Shift the negative cash flow to the next owner


 Here is how we do it:


1) Maximize price – The way we get you top dollar is by exposing your property to the most people we can. We do this by making sure we are marketing your property when the demand is at its highest. Demand is at its highest during the summer months.

2) Collect the Summer Income–The way we accomplish this is by listing the property right now. The property will take at least 90 days to sell. So, if it is June then that means it will not get a contract until the end of August. Then, it will take 45 days to close the transaction.


a. List in June

b. Sell in August
c. Close in September


3) Shift the negative cash flow to the next owner – When we follow the above points, you will end up closing the transaction right before the rental income starts to decline.

Following this method allows you to collect all of the summer rentals and have it sold when the rentals taper down. This is the way we make the most income and then shift the losses of the off-season to the next buyer.

We are committed to protecting the equity of those that hire us. We are aggressively applying this strategy right now. If you are interested in selling and eliminating the negative cash flow of the off- season then please contact us immediately. Also, see my June Newsletter for more information about selling cycles and a new video.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Garden City Beach Real Estate


Offering a more relaxed pace of life than Myrtle Beach to the north, Garden City has developed its own unique aura over the past few decades, with extensive renovations and rebuilding after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It may have some of the most unique homes to be found on the Grand Strand.

Still unincorporated, the community and its exceptional beach are located between Murrells Inlet and Surfside Beach. On the southern tip, it just “becomes” Murrells Inlet as you drive along. Beach houses and condos are the typical homes found here, from multi-million dollar oceanfront spreads to relatively inexpensive older and smaller homes several block back that survived the hurricane.


In addition to single-family homes, there’s also a good inventory of multi-unit properties that have excellent rental histories. The condominiums found here are quite upscale, but not the towering condo hotels like those found in Myrtle Beach. Instead, most of these are in smaller complexes and many of them ultra-luxurious.


Close to the many attractions of Myrtle Beach, the great restaurants of Murrells Inlet and some of the region’s top golf courses, the community also offers a great pier and arcade that’s a focal point for socializing and fun. Nearby Murrells Inlet provides a great area for water sports including kayaking and fishing.



Golf courses within six miles of Garden City include Indigo Creek, Azalea Sands, Blackmoor, Wachesaw Plantation, TPC of Myrtle Beach, Island Green, Wicked Stick, Heron Point and Prestwick Golf and Tennis.

If you would love to have the quintessential “beach house” without the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach itself, Garden City is yet another option. Visit our pages on the website for Garden City Beach Homes and see what’s available. We’ll be happy to show you around this pretty beach!

Pawleys Island Real Estate


Marking the southern end of the Grand Strand, Pawley’s Island is perhaps the most laid-back community on the Grand Strand, as its longtime slogan “Arrogantly Shabby” indicates.

Connected to the mainland by two bridges, the island itself is set apart in residents’ determination to maintain its special flavor. Not really on an island, the community actually sits on a skinny peninsula between the Atlantic and the Waccamaw River. One of the older seaside resorts on the east coast, it served as a cool getaway for wealthy plantation owners during Colonial days.


Now the island’s historic buildings are protected and growth on the end of it is restricted to 600 homes, with no additional shops or restaurants allowed. While the natural law of supply and demand puts a premium on homes on the island portion of Pawleys, prices are more affordable and more housing options are offered in the mainland portion of the community.

The main island does have a good deal of newer development, with multimillion-dollar oceanfront homes replacing original structures swept away by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. More than a few of the many original homes on the island are historic landmarks.


Some of the area’s top master-planned communities and golf courses are located west of U.S. 17 on the mainland. Willowbrook Plantation is typical of these, with exclusive homes in gated neighborhoods. The community is also home to a relatively good inventory of condominiums, most of them ultra-luxurious units, many of which are $1 million plus in price.


If you’re looking for a place at the beach but don’t like the commercialism of Myrtle Beach, Pawley’s Island is the place to look. Whether it’s a beach house, condo, or fine estate home that’s in a gated golf course community, you will find something you like there. And you’re just a short ride to the Seafood Capital of the south, Murrells Inlet, where some of the finest food this side of the Mason-Dixon Line can be found.

Call us to take a tour of the communities in here and we’ll be glad to show you around. Visit our website pages for Pawleys Island homes and find some that you like first!

Surfside Beach Real Estate


Just minutes away from the many attractions of Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach offers a less hectic alternative to its more commercial neighbor. Still close enough to enjoy those attractions, however, residents can also take advantage of the many recreational attractions to the south.

Those include the great restaurants and golf courses around Murrell’s Inlet as well as Pawleys Island. Just two miles long, the community has seen rapid growth over the past decade with the addition of restaurants, grocery stores and healthcare services along the U.S. 17 corridor. The serene residential essence of its beaches and residential area, however, has remained largely unchanged.


Surfside Beach real estate offers a wide range of homes and prices. There are a number of master planned communities around area golf courses, such as John Daly’s Wicked Stick course.

The Prestwick Country Club community enjoys a top-rated golf course and a first-class tennis facility as well, with 11 courts. The island also has a share of old-style beach homes.


Also offered is a good selection of condominiums, from golf course condos to oceanfront units. With no high rises here to dominate the skyline, oceanfront condos are in smaller, more intimate and enjoyable condo properties. The Inlet Square Mall is a nearby shopping center and the Surfside Pier is a favorite of area fishermen.


Find out what Surfside and many of its neighborhoods are like on the Surfside Beach Homes pages on our website. Call or contact us for more information. 

Summerville SC Real Estate


Just minutes up Interstate 26 from downtown Charleston, Summerville has long been regarded as the region’s garden city, a healthy place to live and a great place to raise a family. Settled after the Revolutionary War and named Pineland, the community was an inland getaway for wealthy merchants and plantation owners fleeing Charleston’s oppressive heat, humidity and mosquitoes.

From this seasonal migration to their summer homes or summer “villas,” the community got its name when incorporated in 1847. The city’s reputation as a healthy place to live was solidified in 1899 when an international congress of physicians named it one of the world’s top two places for the treatment of tuberculosis.


Factors contributing to that designation included the area’s many pine trees, a sandy environment and dry climate. In the late 1800s, town officials approved one of the first tree protection ordinances in the country to protect those trees with a fine of $25 for felling one. Also worth noting is the Town Seal inscribed with "Sacra Pinus Esto”, translated as “The Pine is Sacred.”

Summerville is also known as “Flowertown USA”, and since 1941 has held an annual Flowertown Festival attended by over 100,000 each year. The area’s loamy, rich soil is ideal for blossoming plants and the city is known for the incredible beauty of its camellias, magnolias, dogwoods and azaleas.


With many of its homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including a substantial portion of downtown, the city has more than its share of Southern charm. The city offers homes of virtually any type, including golf course homes, waterfront homes, historic homes, condo communities, starter homes, and mansions.


City services are highly rated and the town offers residents a network of great parks. Recreational opportunities abound on nearby Lake Moultrie and the Edisto and Ashley rivers. A good selection of golf courses is available and the town is home to a vibrant arts scene.

Our Century 21 Charleston office is located in Summerville, and we are the local experts on this city’s real estate. Call or visit our website for more information.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

North Charleston Real Estate and Homes for Sale


South Carolina’s third largest city, North Charleston has been the state’s leading retail center for more than 20 years straight and is one of the leading employment centers as well. Once an area of large plantations that included Windsor Hill, Archdale Hall and Camp Plantation, North Charleston’s plantation-based lifestyle collapsed following the Civil War, replaced by phosphates taken from strip mines in the area.

Used as fertilizers, the new industry was the first of many the growing city would see and included lumbering, a rubber company and naval shipyard. The city’s residential growth began in earnest in 1912 when a group of Charleston businessmen formed a development company and began to lay out Park Circle, a community designed and developed with space for commercial, industrial and residential use. The area remains to this day with some streets still bearing names of original developers.


During World War II, the area’s industrial and economic base boomed with the addition of military bases and related industries. By the late 1960s, it was apparent to the area’s residents that North Charleston was and needed to be a separate city from that of Charleston, and in 1972 it was officially incorporated. With the annexation of the Naval Base, Air Force Base and Charleston International Airport in the mid-70s, the city grew to a size rivaling that of Charleston.

While the eventual closing of the Naval Base was a major economic blow in the mid-1990s, the city has more than bounced back with major employers such as Boeing Aircrafts production facility. That facility made North Charleston one of the world’s major aircraft centers with thousands of good paying jobs.


Today, the city is proud of its accomplishments such as the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center, which plays host to national theatre productions, Broadway shows and more. Trident Medical Center is one of the area’s major healthcare facilities and one of many healthcare facilities in the North Charleston area. The city is the home of Trident Technical College and Charleston Southern University.



The Lowcountry Graduate Center near the airport offers access to courses from the University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Clemson and other colleges. The city offers a top-rate parks and recreation system and is home to Wannamaker County Park, home to 1,000 acres of forest and wetlands crisscrossed by a network of hiking and biking trails. The park also offers an expansive dog park, education programs, a snack bar and more. During the warm months, the Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark at Wannamaker is a family favorite with 15 acres of water adventures, including a 27,000-square-foot wave pool.

We have recently opened a new Century 21 office in Summerville SC which services all the Charleston and North Charleston area real estate needs. See our website for more about the area, and search for available homes for sale.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Homes for Sale in Belle Hall Plantation Mount Pleasant, SC

Belle Hall Plantation Homes - Mount Pleasant, SC


With a convenient location close to shopping, schools and recreation, Belle Hall offers a variety of great homes in a variety of styles and price points. A few building lots are available as well. The community includes more than 1,000 homes in seven distinct communities and range from the $200s to more than $1.5 million.



Amenities include an exceptional clubhouse with tennis courts, two swimming pools, basketball court, volleyball court and a network of trails throughout the community. The Town of Mount Pleasant’s Jones Recreation Center is adjacent to the community and offers a pool, basketball court, playground and a youth activities program.



The Belle Hall Shopping Center has more than 60 shops, restaurants and professional offices and the community is just a short drive away from one of the area’s most popular shopping and entertainment destinations, Towne Centre. Convenient access to Interstate 526 also means that the state’s top retail center for more than 20 years running, North Charleston, is just a short drive away.


Beaches at the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island are also within a short drive’s distance. Downtown Charleston is less than 10 miles away across the picturesque Ravenel Bridge. The Battery, City Market, Waterfront Park and the Battery are some of the many world-renowned attractions there.

Daniel Island, home of Charleston’s professional Battery soccer team is just six miles away.  Other nearby attractions include Palmetto Island County Park, which features the Splash Island Waterpark and hundreds of acres of native forest and wetlands to explore. See our website for available Belle Hall Plantation homes or to search the Charleston MLS.

Friday, May 9, 2014

What is happening in the Myrtle Beach Real Estate Market-2014


What is happening in the Myrtle Beach real estate market?
This is the one question that most people want to know, yet so few will give the answer. I spend a lot of time researching market statistics, interviewing bankers and other real estate professionals, in order to get a grip on where the market is heading. Of course, we never know until we get there but I have found that doing your research gives you a better understanding of where we are likely to be in the near future.

Before we talk about where we are heading, let’s look at where we have been:

It was roughly 8 years ago when the market started to decline and then eventually lead to a complete crash. The numbers indicated in 2006 that the market was heading downhill, even though the real crash is said to be in 2007.

It was in 2008, 2009, and 2010 where those who purchased during the high market were sitting back thinking the market would return and they would eventually be able to sell and get their money back.

It was 2010 where those that were holding on finally had to give up, and that caused a surge in short sales and foreclosures.

In 2011, there were still property owners holding on hoping the market would turn around. It was about this time that the conversation started to change and property owners realized that the market would not likely recover at the pace necessary to wipe away their losses. We saw a lot of sellers giving up and selling for whatever price they could get at the time.

We experienced a fairly flat market in 2012. There were certain property types that did okay as some property types declined slightly.

Things changed towards the end of 2012 and all of 2013. The market became surprisingly active again. We were seeing the days on market decrease, prices increased and multiple offers became very common. It took the real estate community by surprise. As a matter of fact, it turned around so quick that we started to fear that this was another boom that would eventually lead to another bust.

Here we are in 2014 and we are starting to see another shift. Again, the market is shifting downward for a number of sales categories in our marketplace. Not only are re-sales on the decline but new construction is also seeing a cooling off from the last 18 months.

What a roller coaster!
From low to high to low to lower to picking up steam to cooling off again.

What is happening?

After a lot of research, we don’t think the market is crashing. We do admit that there is a decline in sales, yet this decline may have more to do with the fact that a lot of buyers rushed to purchase real estate over the last 18 months.

Remember, there have been a lot of investors sitting on the sidelines for the past 8 years. They pulled money out of real estate and were waiting for the right time to purchase again. Over the last 18 months, we feel that a lot of sideline money has entered back into the real estate market.

We also know that large corporations have become real estate investors. There are corporations that own thousands of homes and condos across the country. Whenever you have corporations and investors entering the real estate market at the same time; that is going to eat into supply and push the prices upward.

We cannot deny a surge in prices and sales during 2013.

So, are we really cooling off or was 2013 just a fantastic year in real estate that the market could not sustain? I will leave it up to you to answer this one.

I think we are now staring at the NEW NORMAL!

What is a ‘New Normal’?


The ‘New Normal’ is where we have a more balanced market. The ‘new normal’ doesn't have drastic ups and downs. Some call the New Normal a stabilized market. Supply and demand are not equal, yet they are not so far apart where we turn around. And seemingly overnight we have lost our equity or made significant financial gains on our property holdings.

This may not be the best news for someone who is hoping that the market is going to skyrocket and they can recover all of their past losses, yet it should be comforting to know that the market is much more predictable than it has been for the last 8-9 years.

Of course, anything can happen with the economy or the interest rates that may influence the market but until that happens, it appears we may experience a flat market for the next year or two.

If you have questions, we have answers.  Call us!

~Greg Harrelson
Century 21 The Harrelson Group
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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Myrtle Beach Real Estate – Numbers have Slightly Shifted

Myrtle Beach Home Sales See A Slight Slowdown While
Sale Prices Remain Steady (March 2014)

New Construction Homes in Myrtle Beach

Most people know that the real estate market along the Grand Strand experienced some recovery in 2012 and 2013. The rebound in those two years was very impressive. After seven years of a down market, we felt that we are on our way back to the top.

We study numbers closely and I was working with a local "market analysis" firm who share some interesting numbers on our market. I think you will find this report very helpful in forming your own opinion on how the market is trending.

Based on a recent report from SiteTech, Single Family home sales are lagging behind 2013. February’s 2014 sales volume alone was off 4.6% compared to February2013 levels.Keep in mind, we are comparing same time different year. This takes into account the season.

2013 started off with 10 straight monthsof double-digit growth. The sales volume in November and December were flat and the 2014 Year to Date sales are down 5.1% compared to 2013. So, we had 10 months of strength, 2 months of flat and the first 2 months of 2014 are down. I know it is too early to declare a shift in the market but we think it is very important to keep our eyes open for the next few months.

There are many factors that can contribute to the decline such as record setting 2013 sales, weather, tight inventory in parts of the Grand Strand, and fewer investor sales. Single Family homes inventory has continued to increase with year over year inventory growth of 2.5%. February 2014 inventory levels are at its highest of all February’s since 2011.

One thing we can all celebrate is that distressed inventory is down 24.3% from February 2013, however distressed inventory has increased slightly over the previous 2 months. The current level of distressed inventory represents 9.7% of all home listings on the market. The median sales price for single family homes has maintained its levels at $185,000. So far this year, we are seeing a slight increase in median price. Some say this is influenced by the high-end homes that are being sold.


 The condo market is showing similar trends:


Condo sales
in 2014 have started off a little slow. February’s sales activity is off 13.5% from its 2013 performance and 2014 total sales year to date are down 10.5% compared to the previous year.Just like the inventory of homes, condo inventory rose from its January level. Distressed condo inventory is still down and the median sales price is flat so far in 2014.

Condos for Sale in Atlantica, Myrtle Beach


The real estate market in the Myrtle Beach area has had its ups and downs. A lot of the losses have been washed away over the last two years. The market still has a long ways to go and we are all keeping our fingers crossed that these short trends will reverse so 2014 will end up being another year of growth.

We recently gathered all of the agents at Century 21 the Harrelson Group to discuss the market numbers and brainstorm how we could market our properties to make sure our owners are getting top dollar. Our goal is to maximize price and/or protect our client’s equity.

No matter what the market does, we will aggressively market our properties to ensure maximum exposure. We like to see our listings getting more showings than the competition. More showings equal more offers and that equals higher price.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

How to Sell your Myrtle Beach Real Estate in 2014

2014 will be the year of real estate. There are so many property owners that will make selling their home or condo part of their 2014 goals. For many, they have been waiting for the market to show positive signs before they listed their property. There were plenty of signs of improvement in 2013 and now people are ready to make their move.

If you are selling in 2014 then it is critical that you know the following:

  1. - Start Early: The early bird will get the worm. Those that market their homes and condos for sale in the beginning of the year will beat the competition. We anticipate a lot of supply to come onto the market by spring. The more listings for sale, the less you get in price. Start early.
  2. - Go with the best: Did you know it costs the same to hire a proven professional as it does to hire someone with no experience? Too many properties are listed and then fail to sell because of an inexperienced sales professional. Don’t make this mistake. Choose an agent that can show you past results.
  3. - Market Aggressively: Developers will become your biggest competitor. These developers have massive marketing budgets that your realtor will have to compete against. You need a realtor that will discuss how your property is to be marketed. That is the agents job so make sure they do it what you are paying for.
  4. - Beat the Interest Rate Hike: We don’t know when the interest rates will go up but we do know that they will go up. As rates increase, buyers can afford less which could lead to a decrease in property values. If you are planning on selling then you need to make your move early.

I expect positive things for the 2014 real estate market in Myrtle Beach. Though the market has improved, we cannot get lazy and lose focus on our goals. The market will be very competitive which means there could be downward pressures on pricing. The way to maximize your return on your real estate is to hire the top agent you can find.

Century 21 The Harrelson Group agents have a reputation for getting properties sold. Not only do we get them sold but we average a higher price for our property owners. We are trained to market and we are committed to protecting our client’s equity.

Please allow us an opportunity to show you how we can help you reach your goals.

~Greg Harrelson