Mom and the Hurricane  Well, it could not have been better timing, or so I thought ! I had invited my mom to visit me here in Charleston.  October is the perfect month when the weather is no longer hot and humid but still warm and definitely warmer than in Germany at this time of the year.  And then

                        Charleston's Top 5 Museums Charleston, SC, is one of America's most historic cities, with a rich cultural, natural and military heritage. There's no better spot to experience Charleston's past than in its many museums: The Charleston Museum The Charleston Museum was founded i

If you're thinking of buying a home in Charleston or anywhere else for that matter, you should have a home inspection.  A home inspector is paid by you and works for you.  The inspector should inspect the house from the roof down to the foundation and everything in between.  He has an obligation to

PLANTS AND THE BEACH Aside from the striking natural beauty that plants provide, they are crucial parts of beach ecosystems. Plants are among the first forms of life to inhabit beaches and dunes. Once plants have taken root, sands begin to stabilize, slowly at first, then faster as more plants take

Owning your own home is an accomplishment. After all, in order to do so you have to have a decent credit score, a few thousand dollars in savings and a desire to maintain the home. If you own your home, have been there long enough to have 'built equity' and are ready to 'move up' to a larger home, c

           4 Tips for Buying a Home If You're Disabled Don't let a disability stop you from being a home owner ! Yes, it takes patience and the prospect of buying a home may seem daunting. You as the buyer may need a house in a certain location and/or with specific modifications, and that can be cos

They call it Passive Income.  Whether you own a home yet or not, you can own a rental, investment property and let the tenant pay your mortgage! Many people are now buying inexpensive homes or condos for the sole purpose of renting them out.  For some people and properties it's all about the tenant'

                                           Too Scared !!?? Buying a new home can be exciting but also scary ! Viewing homes, deciding, inspection, repairs, due diligence, insurance, a mountain of paperwork, etc. Working with a competent lender and hiring a professional real estate agent can take awa

                                       WATERMARK        WATERMARK  is a 157-lot single-family neighborhood in the heart of Mount Pleasant.  WATERMARK has some amazing amenities including pools, nature trails, playground, small parks and picnic benches and sidewalks and tree-lined medians. There are

                                         Darrell Creek, Mount Pleasant SC      The residential neighborhood "Darrell Creek" is located between the Wando River and Darrell Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. This neighborhood is conveniently close to Roper St Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant Regional Airpor

Dancing dinosaurs in the sky       Clouds .....ahh  ! …let me tell you about one of my most favorite things to do here :  There is no better spot in time than lying on the sand at Sullivan Island or Isle of Palms and look up in the sky and dream…. dream up shapes and symbols and people and creatures

                   Boiled Peanuts ? really ?  REALLY !! Well, traveling to the South, one will find definitely some foods which will appear weird or strange such as a variety of BBQ, corn, grits, chowder and stews and of course "boiled peanuts" . There are traditional boiled peanuts, Cajun boiled pe

We love to move !    When I came first to the United States, I learned that people like to move to a new house every few years and prefer just a 12 months lease on a property. That was very foreign to me.  In Germany, where is was born, we basically stay in our home "forever" and nobody would sign j

What's in a name?     In the early days of urban development in the United States, streets were typically named after landmarks like Canal or Market, topographic features like Hill or Water, or location like East or Upper. Major streets were often given names like "State", "Church" or "King" or were

SQUARE FOOT and your DOLLAR in our local real estate market   How much square footage per home does $300,000 buy in the Charleston area ? According to a study of the top 50 U.S. real estate markets, $300,000 buy you about  1,449 square feet, or $207 per square foot.  The most recent report, from Oct

The question 'When is the best time to list my house for sale' comes up every day in real estate.  Everyone has their own theory however, there have been studies and studies find Spring is the best.  BUT, and that's a big but...Winter is the second best time. The reason being, buyers are usually mor

Is 2017 the year you plan on moving ?!  You want to up size or down size ? Or possibly lease a new place ? When it comes to leasing, selling or buying a home, whether you are a rookie home buyer or have gone through the process many times, having a local real estate expert who is well versed in loca

Down filled coat vs T-shirt Haha..today I am writing about how a Charlestonian prepared for a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the middle of December. If you have been living here in Charleston SC for quite some time, your blood has thinned out and you know what weather to expect. You enjoy at least 6

  Dear Readers, I am UTE.  I have posted many blogs on the Internet and written about the local real estate market, posted photos, area info or simply wrote about things one should know or be aware of in any real estate transaction, if one sells, buys or leases a home. Today, I want to tell you a li

You may own your own home or you may be in the market to buy a home.  Either way, when you own a home there are maintenance issues that should be addressed regularly.  A home is most likely your most valuable asset.  Many homeowners don't realize how important it is to make cosmetic repairs as well