Category Archives: South Carolina

Nine Carolina Cities Make Improving Markets List for April

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US MapNine cities in North and South Carolina made the list of housing markets showing measurable improvement in April. Compiled by the National Association of Home Builders and First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), April’s list included 101 metropolitan areas across the nation.

Seven North Carolina cities:  Burlington, Charlotte, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Greenville, Rocky Mount and Winston-Salem made the list. Charleston and Spartanburg made the list for South Carolina.

The IMI identifies metro areas that show increases over a six month period for each of the respective lows related to employment, housing permits and house prices. The data is collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Census Bureau and Freddie Mac. The list of 101 cities is up from the 99 listed in March, with 11 slipping from the list and 13 new ones being added.

“While housing markets across the country continue to struggle under the weight of overly tight lending conditions and other challenges, the April IMI indicates that at least 101 individual metros are showing measurable and consistent signs that they are headed in the right direction,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg. “A total of 35 states are now represented on the list, with 10 states having four or more entries. This positive news is in line with what our builder members have observed regarding firming conditions and improved buyer interest in certain locations.”

The National Association of Home Builders is a trade organization of 140,000 plus members involved in multifamily construction, home building, subcontracting, remodeling, housing finance, property management, building product manufacturing, design and more. NAHB builder members are expected to be involved in 80 percent of new housing projects this year.

If you’re interested in buying a home in one of these booming cities in North Carolina or South Carolina, visit Carolina Real Estate Forum.

Want to Move to a “Green” Location? Consider Charlotte

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1158957_green_houses aref featInvesting in energy-efficient products and green building not only protects the environment, but it protects your family as well. Buyers looking for a healthy, “green” location for their families should consider the purchase of Carolina real estate in Charlotte, N.C.

Recently, Charlotte was named as one of the top 25 cities with the most energy-efficient buildings that received the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification in 2010. Among the facilities that are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR label are K-12 schools, supermarkets, bank branches, financial centers, places of worship, hospitals, offices and retailers to name a few. Your family probably frequents these types of locations often, if not on a daily basis.

So, why is this important for your family? Did you know that nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use in commercial buildings? However, ENERGY STAR certified buildings emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide and use 35 percent less energy than average buildings.

To qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating, a building must perform better than at least 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide, and be verified by a licensed professional engineer or a registered architect.

Tell us what you think: How important is energy efficiency to you?

For more information about Charlotte’s ENERGY STAR certified buildings, visit the ENERGY STAR website.

Tips For Renting Your Carolina Real Estate

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for rentWould you make a good landlord? The job description doesn’t fit everyone. You may want to check out some tips for making your role as a landlord successful before you decide invest in Carolina real estate.

There is a lot of talk about investing in real estate or renting out your real estate now due to the state of the housing market. Some people are looking into the opportunity to snatch up investment properties while housing prices and interest rates are low. Others need to move in order to follow a job, but they’re current mortgages are underwater. Rather than selling at a loss, they’re opting to hold on to the property and rent it out for a time.

The Equifax Personal Finance Blog has tips for you to remember before you make the leap into renting property. Real estate expert Ilyce Glink’s article, “Real Estate Investing: How to Be a Good Landlord,” offers the benefit of her own experiences renting out properties. She also gives a summary of suggestions offered by Robert Shemin, author of Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor.

  • Don’t expect to become friends with your tenants. Keep it a business relationship because friends may expect more leeway or special treatment – perhaps being late on the rent payment or requesting extras for the home.
  • Be very clear about expectations and policies.
  • Use your current good tenants to help find your next good tenants by enlisting their help.
  • Always run a credit check on potential renters.

And what does your perspective tenant’s car have to do with anything? You’ll have to follow the link to the Equifax Personal Finance Blog

http://www.equifax.com/blog/ to find out!

Hal Von Nessen Honored for Outstanding Contributions to Housing Industry

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von nessen_molsten 300x250Founder and President of RESH Marketing, Hal Von Nessen, recently received the William “Bill” Molster award from the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) at the 2011 International Builder’s Show in Orlando, Fla.

The annual award is given to individuals who make significant contributions to both the NSMC and the housing industry. It is named after Bill Molster, founder of the NSMC for the National Association of Home Builders.

Von Nessen’s name should sound familiar to anyone in the South Carolina real estate industry, as he was inducted into the South Carolina Housing Hall of Fame in 2010. Since 1995, the Hall of Fame has honored those who have had a major impact on the housing industry through work in building, development or other related areas.

In addition to Hall of Fame honors ,Von Nessen has been recognized by the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM), receiving the Trina Ripley Award for excellence in education. He is also a member of such prestigious organizations as the NAHB Society of Honored Associates; the Faculties of the IRM; the University of Housing; and the Home Builders Institute.

Von Nessen’s contributions to the South Carolina housing industry, and the real estate market in general, cannot be overstated. Since founding RESH Marketing in 1979, he has assisted in marketing over 15,000 new homes across the nation. Von Nessen has also assisted numerous Home Builders Associations throughout the United States, continuously strengthening the industry. As a result of his hard work and dedication, he was the first person from South Carolina ever elected to serve as president of the NAHB Institute of Residential Marketing.

For more information about Hal Von Nessen and RESH Marketing, contact Theresa Taylor at th*****@**sh.com.

National Active Retirement Community Conference

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mature-couple-with-laptop-feaAmerica’s top professionals involved in building for, marketing to and serving people aged 55+ will gather at the National Active Retirement Community (NARA) 11th Annual Business Conference in Columbia, SC October 20-22.

Professionals, academicians, real estate developers, marketers, salespeople, city/town representatives and other business professionals seeking to capitalize on the unprecedented aging of America at our doorstep will attend. Topics will range from internet marketing to strategies to attract retirees to invest in your community. Speakers will also offer advice on how to successfully design, build and market 55+ housing, as well as market 55+ targeted products and services.

“As America ages, we are faced with enormous challenges and opportunities to serve this burgeoning market segment,” said NARA Director Dan Owens. “Every six seconds, an American turns 50 and professionals need to get attuned to this marketplace to be successful in our changing economy.”

“With 70 percent of all assets held by people over 50, older folks play a large role in the economy,” said Owens. “A large number of active retirees have moved in early retirement in the past five years bringing hundreds of millions of investment dollars to states. As the economy starts to recover, you see homebuying being led by those 55+ buyers who have the financial ability to move…and often pay cash for their new home.”

Past conferences have attracted business professionals from 16 states, Canada and Mexico.

Experts from around the United States will be speaking at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. On Wednesday, October 20, sessions featuring two national experts will be open to the public. John K. Lynch, chief market analyst with Wells Fargo’s Evergreen Fund, will give his assessment of the current economic climate as it relates to older consumers. Following Lynch, Dr. Joe Gribbin, head of the masters’ program at the Erickson School at the University of Maryland, will give a detailed presentation about the future of Social Security and Medicare.

Other speakers include:

*Dave Reitz, Chicago, Ill. Formerly a leading executive with Del Webb’s Sun City brand, Dave now works in the residential building market targeting 55+ buyers.

Colin Milner, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), one of the world’s visionaries on the health and well-being of the older adult.

*Simon Hudson, Columbia, SC. Chair in Tourism Research at USC. Simon has done extensive research into mature (50+) tourism and will discuss tourism as it leads to retirement in a location.

*John Cromartie, Washington, D.C. A senior demographer at the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, John has focused on retiree migration to rural areas.

*Gene Warren, Phoenix, AZ. A principal in Thomas+Warren, Gene is a leading authority on where retirees move and why.

*Tom Mann, Baltimore, MD. A principal of TR Mann Consulting and the Tuesday Morning Sales Club. Tom is also a co-founder of the networking group Mature Market Experts. Tom’s clients include senior housing developers, magazines, financial and consumer products and several fitness products, all aimed at serving the boomer and senior markets.

Richard “Dick” Ambrosius, South Dakota, VP, NeoCORTA, an organization committed to assessing and improving brain fitness among older adults.

The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board is the host organization and a Diamond Level sponsor. Other sponsors include the Go Texan state retiree attraction program and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. All NARA sessions will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia’s resurgent downtown “Vista” entertainment district.