Why Should I Use a Realtor?

A home purchase is one of the biggest financial investments a person will make in their lifetime. The following information will make your home buying or selling experience better and show why the expertise of a Realtor is well worth the money!

SELLERS

REALTORS provide sellers invaluable services, and there are many reasons to work with one. A Realtor:

• Can give you up-to-date information about the market, prices, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties.
• Will market your property to other real estate agents and to the public.
• Will know when, where and how to best market your property.
• Can help you objectively evaluate every buyer’s proposal without compromising your marketing position.
• Can help close the sale of your home.

                                                       

BUYERS

REALTORS provide critical assistance with the home buying process. A Realtor:

• Has many resources to assist you in your home search.
• Can provide objective information about each property.
• Can help you negotiate.
• Can help you determine your buying power.
• Provides guidance during the evaluation of the property.
• Can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

 

REALTORS are Experts

Real Estate transactions are usually the biggest financial investments most people ever make. Your REALTOR can help you understand different financing options and find qualified mortgage lenders.

 

REALTORS are Part of the Community

REALTORS are advocates for fair housing and help create new housing opportunities. Mostt realtors are active members of their communities and spend time volunteering. Being actively involved helps Realtors understand the market where they work!

 

REALTORS Protect You

When a property is marketed with the help of your Realtor, you don’t have to allow strangers into your home. Only Realtors follow a strong Code of Ethics and vow to protect their clients in every transaction. Your Realtor represents you every step of the way into your new home.

This article brought to you by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, you can visit their website for more information!

You can visit our site to get more information on selling your home, buying a home, upstate South Carolina homes for sale, new home construction, Video Tours of homes for sale, lease purchases and many other of your Real Estate needs!

 

Give Where You Live- Red Day with Keller Williams 2011

Hello Friends,
On May 14, 2001 our local office will be participating in the 2nd annual Keller Williams Realty R.E.D.(Renew, Energize and Donate)Day. All of our associates in the US and Canada will donate one day to projects related to renewing and energizing theior local communities. Our office will be participating on this day by assisting Children Shelter of the Upstate, Inc. located in Spartanburg and are looking to you as a member of our community for assistance.
We would like to provide you with the opportunity to show your support for our community as well as our initiative by donating cash gifts, food for our meals, water, and/or other supplies. Our event will take place at the Children Shelter and we would love for you to become a participant of this event. We are looking for all types of help from painting to cleaning and maitenance. If anyone has any questions, would like to sign up to participate or would like to contribute please let me know by email at alexisrogers@kw.com. Thanks for your support and I hope I will hear from everyone soon!

Alexis Rogers
Keller Williams Realty
Patty Paulsen and Associates

 

South Carolina Foreclosure Prevention Program Now Available

A Great New Program for South Carolinians that may be facing Foreclosure

The word is out and SC HELP is using $300 million dollars in federal funds to help struggling homeowners in SC! See below for more details.

 SC HELP Foreclosure Prevention Program Now Available Statewide

 Almost $300 million in funds to keep homeowners in their homes.

 [Columbia, SC]           Following a successful pilot program and Treasury’s approval of South Carolina’s readiness assessment, SC Housing Corp. will take its foreclosure prevention program statewide. Starting January 20, the South Carolina Homeownership and Employment Lending Program (SC HELP) will use almost $300 million in federal funds to help responsible but struggling homeowners in the state.

Key components for SC HELP include:

• Monthly Payment Assistance-assisting homeowners with monthly payments for a defined period of time while they seek employment and a return to self sustainability.

• Direct Loan Assistance-for borrowers who have experienced a hardship but have regained the ability to pay. Funds can be used to pay arrearages in order to bring the loan current.
• Property Disposition Assistance-in cases where the mortgage cannot be salvaged, funds may be provided to incentivize short sales, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure and to help transition families from homeownership to rental housing.

 Homeowners applying for Monthly Payment Assistance or Direct Loan Assistance must meet certain threshold requirements in order to apply for help:

1. Borrower or co-borrower must be able to document that the delinquency was a result of a hardship event beyond his/her control (i.e. unemployment, death of a spouse, catastrophic medical expenses, etc.)
2. Mortgage payments must have been made on time for 12 months preceding the hardship event with no more than two 30-day late occurrences
3. The property securing the mortgage must be owner-occupied as a full-time residence
4. Borrower must provide a financial hardship affidavit
5. Mortgage can be no more than 120 days delinquent
6. Loan servicer/investor must be willing to accept payments and provide required data and reporting 

Assistance from SC HELP will be provided in the form of a nonrecourse zero-percent interest, non-amortizing, forgivable loan secured by a subordinate lien on the subject property. The loan will be forgiven over a five-year period at a rate of 20% per year. If property is sold or refinanced prior to the loan termination date, funds will be recovered should sufficient equity be available from the transaction. The Property Disposition Assistance Program will provide a one time, lump sum grant to the recipient.

Additional criteria and documentation requirements must be met for final eligibility determination. Homeowners wishing to make an application should apply online at www.SCMortgageHelp.com.  SC HELP officials emphasize that using the online application is the fastest and most efficient way to begin the process. Homeowners without internet access may call toll-free to 855-HELP-4-SC (855 435-7472) to begin the process.

SC HELP is intended to assist responsible borrowers – those borrowers who are facing possible foreclosure due to circumstances beyond their control, i.e. unemployment, death of a spouse, catastrophic medical expenses and/or divorce.  SC HELP is NOT intended to serve borrowers who are facing foreclosure due to poor credit and/or debt management, stripping the equity from their home for non-essential purposes, or overall mismanagement of their personal budget.

Additional information, background and resources are now posted on SC State Housing’s website, as well as http://www.SCMortgageHelp.com, and will be updated frequently.

SC Housing Corp. is a nonprofit division of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC State Housing).

For more information please call Patty Paulsen & Associates at (864) 350-7230  You can also visit us on the web and view other communities, listing videos and lease to own homes at www.upstatehomesweethome.com

 

Boxwood: A beautiful community that we think you will love!

Boxwood: A Neo-Traditional Community in Beautiful Simpsonville SC

Tree-lined streets with sidewalks and street lamps, neighbors greeting one another during evening walks, front porches bristling with conversation and activity, children playing in the park a few “yards” away… These are neighborhood sights and sounds you will find at Boxwood, the newest Neotraditional neighborhood. Prices begin in the $220’s.

Beautiful homes with covered front porches and spacious floor plans with distinctive architectural details from the 1,811 sq. ft. to 3,623 sq. ft. Most homes feature rear or alley entry garages. Richly landscaped common areas, parks and private yards- all fully maintained. Here you’ll find a variety of homestyles to match the diversity of families and individuals, all sharing the highest quality from Lazarus-Shouse, your hometown builder with over three decades of experience.

Boxwood features a model home that is now for sale and also one “top selling floor plan” that is currently under construction. Come out and visit Boxwood this weekend and see what we mean when we say you will love this neighborhood! Boxwood is located on HWY 14 just 2 miles from Woodruff Road. Boxwood is private and quiet but still only a few minutes from HWY 85 and 385! Whether you want to purchase an inventory home or build your own Boxwood has everything you might need!

For more information please call Patty Paulsen & Associates at (864) 350-7230  You can also visit us on the web and view other communities, listing videos and lease to own homes at www.upstatehomesweethome.com