The Adkins Advantage team welcomes Boeing to Charleston. We are here to assist all employees, partners and businesses with real estate services. The 787  final assembly here in North Charleston will bring many high-paying support jobs therefore giving the economy a boost.

There are many housing options in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties that are near the plant.

While some buyers are still sitting on the fence contemplating whether they should buy a house or not, many buyers are hopping off that fence quickly in order to take advantage of the incentives to make a purchase this year. 

Interest rates are below 5% which means money is less expensive to borrow than it was this time last year.  Also, buyers may be eligible to receive an $8,000 tax credit for purchases made before December 1, 2009.  Both of these factors equate to more money in the pockets of buyers – so why not buy now???  Call us and let us know what you’re looking for or search for properties on our website.

The Adkins Advantage Team

Helping Buyers Get Off the Fence!!!

Yes, even in this economy, more specifically this real estate market, it is STILL possible to buy a house with no money down.  We had 2 closings last week.  One buyer used the Rural Housing program to obtain a 100% loan with an interest rate of less than 5.4%.  The builder paid her closing costs, so she didn’t have to bring money to closing.  In fact, she actually got money BACK at closing!  Just in case you’re wondering about the Rural Housing program, no, she doesn’t live in the country or deep rural area.

The other buyer purchased a property using a 15-year loan with an interest rate of 5.5%.

We wanted to pass this information along as encouragement to buyers who may be sitting on the fence about buying a home.  Let us help you.  If you would like more information about the Rural Housing program for yourself or for someone else, call us today.

Also, both of these buyers will receive a $7,500 tax credit on their 2008 taxes because they are first time buyers.  Here’s an example of how this works.  Suppose they usually get a $1,000 tax return.  Well, this time, it will be $8,500.  They can take that money and invest it to make more.  Then for the next 15 years, they will give a $500 tax payment to the IRS.  So instead of receiving the $1,000 tax return for the next 15 years, it will be $500.  Sounds like a good deal to us!

Remember we’re here to help.  You have 3 resources available to you, Randy, Sherlonda and Rita Adkins; use them wisely.

 We are excited to provide this information to you. I often get asked the question, How do I get started in real estate investing? In June 2005, we purchased our first property. It was a townhouse in Goose Creek. We negotiated with a For Sale By Owner and we got a pretty good deal. We used money from the HELOC on our primary residence. We read books on property management and we spoke with an attorney about the contracts. We sold the property a year later for $20,000 more. A few months after purchasing our first investment Sherlonda became a licensed Realtor. Six months following Sherlonda, Randy became a licensed Realtor as well. Real Estate investing is exciting and worth while if you have guidance from a Realtor, Attorney, Mortgage Broker, Contractors .... We have a network of people that we work with in real estate. If you want to get started in real estate investing, give us a call because we can give you guidance on the market, the real estate process and access to our network of professionals.

Tips to get started.

1. Start building your network with a Realtor, Attorney, Contractor, Mortgage Broker.... Go to the local REIA meetings. Investor club meetings.

2. Read online sites like www.creonline.com or www.reiclub.com.

3. Read all books on Real Estate Investing that you can.

4. Go to auctions.

5. Take Action.

Happy Investing!!!

I thought this was an interesting article on the South Carolina Housing Authority website. We have additional information on this program for teachers in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston County. Call us 843-343-3403 or email us homes@theadkinsadvantage.com

$20 Million Initiative Offers Teachers Homeownership Opportunities - 4/17/2008

COLUMBIA – Two state agencies are partnering to offer a joint $20 million initiative that will offer low-interest home loans to South Carolina teachers – and help with their down payments, too.

The 2008 Palmetto Hero Program, an initiative of the South Carolina State Housing Authority in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education, offers assistance to eligible teachers hoping to purchase their first homes.

The new program is available to teachers who have valid South Carolina teacher certifications, currently reside and teach in the state, or have a contract to begin teaching here within 60 days of closing on a home. 

Eligible teachers can get a 5.875 percent initial interest rate through the First Time Homebuyer Program.  In addition, teachers who qualify based on income can take advantage of one of two down payment assistance loans.

Mortgage loan terms can be up to 30 years and are available to qualified buyers through any of the Authority’s more than 200 participating lenders or brokers statewide.  Maximum income limits, based on median income per county, range from a low of $16,300 to a high of $73,800.  Maximum purchase price limits for new construction as well as existing homes range from $180,144 to $284,050, also depending on county. The current rate is subject to change due to market conditions.  These loans cannot be used for refinancing.

For more information on this limited offer, contact South Carolina State Housing at 1-800-432-5007 or (803) 896-9508, or visit the Authority’s website (www.schousing.com) for a list of participating lenders. Hearing and/or speech-impaired individuals may use the Authority’s TTY line (803) 896-8831.

The State Housing Finance and Development Authority is a self-supporting agency of state government and operates at no cost to taxpayers.

Investing in real estate is how the wealthy get wealthier. Many think that it takes money to make money. I want to dispell that myth today. It only takes initiative and persistence to overcome the myth. Money will come to you if you change your thinking about how money works. Are you a consumer or an investor? Let me phrase this a different way. Hypothetically, I give you $100,000. What would you do with the hundred dollars? I will give you the answer from a consumer and the answer from the investor. The consumer would say I will pay off all of my debts, take an exotic vacation, buy a new car, buy new wardrobe etc... The consumer will spend all of the money. But you say well at least the consumer paid off his/her debt, there something good about that right? Well it is good that the consumer has paid off the debt but consumer has not done anything to change what got them into debt in the first place. I would give the consumer a few months and he/she would be in debt again. On the other hand the investor would invest the $100,000 in real estate, stocks, businesses or an income producing asset. The investor will have the money work for her to create more money. The investor may buy the same things that the consumer bought but not until there was enough income from the investments. Investing in real estate is your ticket to freedom.

also visit us at investrealestate.wordpress.com.

I know that it has been a while since I have posted. I will get better at more consistent posts. I am excited to share with you ways to build wealth through real estate investing. There are many who are rich but not wealthy. I have the process and information on how to build wealth and keep it. Many think that this time is a bad time for investing, but this is the greatest time to invest. Real Estate over the years has increased in value and there is no indication that this will change. Ok, you are saying, How do I become wealthy when I have bad credit, no money and the national media is saying the market is bad? I am so glad you asked! I will pass on to you free information about the wealth building.

 A Few Tips to Wealth Building

1. Believe that you will be wealthy. If you do not get this tip the rest will not help you.

2. Discipline you finances/body/mind. You have to rule your finances/body/mind and not let you finances/body/mind rule you.

3. Think like an investor not a consumer. Many americans are thinking like consumers, thererfore they are incurring debt. Investors are always investing time, money and skills. Did you know you can use you IRA,401(k) to buy properties?

4. Implement models and processes to support your investing. Even the most wealthy have criteria and processes they use when investing. (If this sound a little techie...its me ,,,sometimes the programmer/tech guy comes out..bear with me)

5. Believe that you will be wealthy! Dismiss the negative stories of that hinder you from taking the next step. Those who discourage you are the ones who have never successfully travelled the path you on.

6. Build Relationships. 

7. Take Action Now!

Do you believe that you can be wealthy?

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

• Equifax: Call 1-800-685-1111. This voice mail system talks to you in Spanish or English. It will let you record your request if you were turned down for credit, employment, or insurance within the last 60 days.

• Experian – www.experian.com
• Equifax – www.equifax.com
• Trans Union – www.transunion.com

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

1. Don't overprice your property. According to a 2002 academic study of 3,490 California listings, homes without a price reduction sold for 97 percent of the initial list price, whereas homes with a price reduction sold for 88 percent of the initial list price.

2. Set your price to show up in Web searches. A September 2007 Redfin study analyzed how online search filters affect traffic to a listing. Because real estate sites filter on price in $25,000 or $50,000 increments, listings priced at or below these thresholds — $250,000 rather than $251,000, or $325,000 rather than $326,000 — get as much as 7.1 percent more online visits.

3. Debut on Friday. A December 2007 Redfin analysis of its online traffic for 119,079 listings across seven markets found that listings that debut on Friday get on average 7.7 percent more visitors in their first seven days than those that debut on the worst day, Thursday.

4. Get sellers engaged with your agent. According to several academic studies, motivated, active sellers are able to sell their property as much as 30 percent faster.

5. Market the property online. Promoting a listing on Web sites beyond the local Multiple Listing Service can drive a significant number of new online visits to a property. A December 2007 analysis of 121 Redfin listings found that promoting the listings on Craigslist resulted in an average of 6.8 online visits to the property for each Craigslist promotion.

6. Have sellers stay put. The study of 3,490 California listings, cited earlier, found that vacant homes were 9.5 percent more likely to undergo a price reduction.

7. Wait to list your property until neighboring foreclosures are off the market. According to a November 2007 report from the Center for Responsible Lending, a foreclosure costs neighboring home owners an average of $5,000 when listing their property.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

These are a few tips from the Adkins Advantage on questions to ask a home inspector. Homes are the greatest investments of a lifetime and you should have a REALTOR who can guide you through the buying process. As a Buyer you are represented by a REALTOR at no charge to you.

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

I know that it has been a while since I have posted. I will get better at more consistent posts. I am excited to share with you ways to build wealth through real estate investing. There are many who are rich but not wealthy. I have the process and information on how to build wealth and keep it. Many think that this time is a bad time for investing, but this is the greatest time to invest. Real Estate over the years has increased in value and there is no indication that this will change. Ok, you are saying, How do I become wealthy when I have bad credit, no money and the national media is saying the market is bad? I am so glad you asked! I will pass on to you free information about the wealth building.

 A Few Tips to Wealth Building

1. Believe that you will be wealthy. If you do not get this tip the rest will not help you.

2. Discipline you finances/body/mind. You have to rule your finances/body/mind and not let you finances/body/mind rule you.

3. Think like an investor not a consumer. Many americans are thinking like consumers, thererfore they are incurring debt. Investors are always investing time, money and skills. Did you know you can use you IRA,401(k) to buy properties?

4. Implement models and processes to support your investing. Even the most wealthy have criteria and processes they use when investing. (If this sound a little techie...its me ,,,sometimes the programmer/tech guy comes out..bear with me)

5. Believe that you will be wealthy! Dismiss the negative stories of that hinder you from taking the next step. Those who discourage you are the ones who have never successfully travelled the path you on.

6. Build Relationships. 

7. Take Action Now!

Do you believe that you can be wealthy?

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

These are a few tips from the Adkins Advantage on questions to ask a home inspector. Homes are the greatest investments of a lifetime and you should have a REALTOR who can guide you through the buying process. As a Buyer you are represented by a REALTOR at no charge to you.

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

1. Don't overprice your property. According to a 2002 academic study of 3,490 California listings, homes without a price reduction sold for 97 percent of the initial list price, whereas homes with a price reduction sold for 88 percent of the initial list price.

2. Set your price to show up in Web searches. A September 2007 Redfin study analyzed how online search filters affect traffic to a listing. Because real estate sites filter on price in $25,000 or $50,000 increments, listings priced at or below these thresholds — $250,000 rather than $251,000, or $325,000 rather than $326,000 — get as much as 7.1 percent more online visits.

3. Debut on Friday. A December 2007 Redfin analysis of its online traffic for 119,079 listings across seven markets found that listings that debut on Friday get on average 7.7 percent more visitors in their first seven days than those that debut on the worst day, Thursday.

4. Get sellers engaged with your agent. According to several academic studies, motivated, active sellers are able to sell their property as much as 30 percent faster.

5. Market the property online. Promoting a listing on Web sites beyond the local Multiple Listing Service can drive a significant number of new online visits to a property. A December 2007 analysis of 121 Redfin listings found that promoting the listings on Craigslist resulted in an average of 6.8 online visits to the property for each Craigslist promotion.

6. Have sellers stay put. The study of 3,490 California listings, cited earlier, found that vacant homes were 9.5 percent more likely to undergo a price reduction.

7. Wait to list your property until neighboring foreclosures are off the market. According to a November 2007 report from the Center for Responsible Lending, a foreclosure costs neighboring home owners an average of $5,000 when listing their property.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

• Equifax: Call 1-800-685-1111. This voice mail system talks to you in Spanish or English. It will let you record your request if you were turned down for credit, employment, or insurance within the last 60 days.

• Experian – www.experian.com
• Equifax – www.equifax.com
• Trans Union – www.transunion.com

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

1. Don't overprice your property. According to a 2002 academic study of 3,490 California listings, homes without a price reduction sold for 97 percent of the initial list price, whereas homes with a price reduction sold for 88 percent of the initial list price.

2. Set your price to show up in Web searches. A September 2007 Redfin study analyzed how online search filters affect traffic to a listing. Because real estate sites filter on price in $25,000 or $50,000 increments, listings priced at or below these thresholds — $250,000 rather than $251,000, or $325,000 rather than $326,000 — get as much as 7.1 percent more online visits.

3. Debut on Friday. A December 2007 Redfin analysis of its online traffic for 119,079 listings across seven markets found that listings that debut on Friday get on average 7.7 percent more visitors in their first seven days than those that debut on the worst day, Thursday.

4. Get sellers engaged with your agent. According to several academic studies, motivated, active sellers are able to sell their property as much as 30 percent faster.

5. Market the property online. Promoting a listing on Web sites beyond the local Multiple Listing Service can drive a significant number of new online visits to a property. A December 2007 analysis of 121 Redfin listings found that promoting the listings on Craigslist resulted in an average of 6.8 online visits to the property for each Craigslist promotion.

6. Have sellers stay put. The study of 3,490 California listings, cited earlier, found that vacant homes were 9.5 percent more likely to undergo a price reduction.

7. Wait to list your property until neighboring foreclosures are off the market. According to a November 2007 report from the Center for Responsible Lending, a foreclosure costs neighboring home owners an average of $5,000 when listing their property.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

These are a few tips from the Adkins Advantage on questions to ask a home inspector. Homes are the greatest investments of a lifetime and you should have a REALTOR who can guide you through the buying process. As a Buyer you are represented by a REALTOR at no charge to you.

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner

I know that it has been a while since I have posted. I will get better at more consistent posts. I am excited to share with you ways to build wealth through real estate investing. There are many who are rich but not wealthy. I have the process and information on how to build wealth and keep it. Many think that this time is a bad time for investing, but this is the greatest time to invest. Real Estate over the years has increased in value and there is no indication that this will change. Ok, you are saying, How do I become wealthy when I have bad credit, no money and the national media is saying the market is bad? I am so glad you asked! I will pass on to you free information about the wealth building.

 A Few Tips to Wealth Building

1. Believe that you will be wealthy. If you do not get this tip the rest will not help you.

2. Discipline you finances/body/mind. You have to rule your finances/body/mind and not let you finances/body/mind rule you.

3. Think like an investor not a consumer. Many americans are thinking like consumers, thererfore they are incurring debt. Investors are always investing time, money and skills. Did you know you can use you IRA,401(k) to buy properties?

4. Implement models and processes to support your investing. Even the most wealthy have criteria and processes they use when investing. (If this sound a little techie...its me ,,,sometimes the programmer/tech guy comes out..bear with me)

5. Believe that you will be wealthy! Dismiss the negative stories of that hinder you from taking the next step. Those who discourage you are the ones who have never successfully travelled the path you on.

6. Build Relationships. 

7. Take Action Now!

Do you believe that you can be wealthy?

Comments (0)

The Adkins Advantage Corner The Adkins Advantage Corner