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Instead of buying new things for your home, consider saving money and the environment by reusing what you already have. Oftentimes unused furniture and decorative items are banished to the attic or basement where they are soon forgotten. Now may be the time to consider how these pieces can be repurposed or recycled to renew the look of your home. Here are some tips to help you find hidden decorating gems at home:

• Consider where you might want to relocate accent pieces and small decorative items to another room to give it a fresh look. Throw pillows, vases, frames, table lamps, plants, baskets, artwork or small rugs are prime candidates for being moved to another spot.
• One of the best ...

Will opening a new store credit card hurt your three-digit FICO credit score? Will closing that credit card account that you haven't used in 10 years cause your score to drop? Will applying for a home equity loan cause your score to tumble? You may not need to be as worried as you are! Learn how credit scores work.

Why your credit score matters

Lenders study your three-digit FICO credit score whenever you apply for a new credit card or loan. The higher your score, the more likely you are to qualify for a mortgage, an auto loan or a credit card with a lower interest rate. If your score is too low, you might struggle to qualify for new credit or loans at all.

Most lenders consider FICO s...

Home staging is a strategic way of preparing your home to spotlight all of its best features while downplaying its shortcomings. This includes decluttering, depersonalizing and making any necessary repairs or improvements to the house. Home staging is not required, but it can make a difference in a tight, competitive selling market.

Staged homes tend to sell faster than those that are not staged. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes recently sold for about $40,000 above asking price. Staged homes were reported to sell nine days faster than the average home.

While you can work with a professional stager, know going in that you will spend  somewhere between $782 ...

The kitchen island is more than just a functional component of kitchen design; it's a central hub for cooking, socializing and — sometimes — doing homework. A well-designed island can transform your kitchen into a dream space for culinary creativity and gatherings. Here are four key considerations to help you design the perfect kitchen island.

Size and shape matter

Your kitchen island's ideal size and shape depend on your kitchen's layout and size. Ensure enough room for movement around the island — experts recommend at least 42 inches of clearance on all sides. Consider an island shape that complements your kitchen's configuration, whether rectangular, square or even L-shaped, to enhan...

Transforming your bathroom into a minimalist sanctuary not only enhances its aesthetic but also turns it into a haven of peace and relaxation. Embracing minimalism in bathroom design involves more than just a style choice; it's about creating a space that promotes calmness and order. Here are key points to consider if you're looking to declutter and simplify your bathroom:

Streamline your essentials

Focus on reducing the number of items to just the essentials. This includes toiletries, towels and accessories. Evaluate what you truly need daily and find a designated place for each item. Storage solutions like built-in shelves or vanity cabinets can keep counters clear and maintain a neat...

Hippie chic décor is an unapologetically joyful eclectic blending of several other styles, including Boho, Maximalism and Biophilic interior designs. To get started, do some research by diving into the aesthetic of the era. Hippie fashion, art, film and music are there to inspire you in creating the unique vibe in your own home. This laid-back style is characterized by visually interesting bold colors, daring patterns, deep textures and natural materials. Psychedelic colors like orange, turquoise and purple come together with funky patterns like paisley, tie-dye and florals in unexpected and eye-catching ways. The result is a groovy explosion of fun decorative energy. Here is some inspira...

Let's start with the basics: What is capital gains tax? It is a type of tax on profits earned from the sale of assets like stock or real estate. When these are sold for more than they cost to purchase, the IRS taxes the gain.

In real estate, capital gains are calculated by taking the final total sale price of the house and deducting its original cost. However, the tax on that gain is calculated with additional considerations:

• How long you owned the house
• Any fees you've paid — escrow, recording and appraisal fees, brokers' commissions
• Your income tax bracket
• Your marital status

If you've owned your house for less than a year, then the capital gains are considered short term. In ...

Predicting the future is always difficult but especially difficult when trying to account for all the factors involved in the real estate market. When dealing with something complicated, I try to boil it down to its most basic components and go from there. Real estate, like any market, comes down to supply and demand. 

Supply:

In the Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors market, our supply has steadily grown in 2024. This trend leads me to believe that supply will either hold steady or grow in 2025. Since Myrtle Beach is a popular retiree destination, there’s an inherent turnover of homes as the aging Baby Boomers pass away or move out of independent living. Those homes regularly co...

Setting up a home office within the size limitations of an apartment requires being creative and resourceful. If you live with another person who also works from home, you will need to be respectful of their space. Before you claim an area for your office, make sure you will not disrupt the other person, especially when it comes to making and taking phone calls.

Your home office should be a place where you can focus and stay motivated. Assess your apartment and see where you can carve out a workspace. A couple of likely places would be the living room or bedroom. If you've been working at the dining room table, you already know how disruptive working in a common area can be. You need to ...

As we finish 2024, you may be gearing up to make a change in the New Year. If your goals are real estate focused or even real estate adjacent, we’d love to learn more and see how we can help. If you’re thinking about buying or selling (and especially if you’re trying to do both at the same time), please schedule a free, no-hassle consultation. We want to provide guidance and advice so you can make the best decision possible. If you’re debating becoming a landlord or selling your investment property, we can help weigh your options so you can make your move next year. We love helping first time home buyers, retirees, investors, transplants, natives and specialize in difficult situations. We...

Once again, The Anderson Team have been able to help so many wonderful people buy and sell real estate. We used this blessing to help a local family who needed help this Christmas via the Billy’s Boys Foundation. 

When I was growing up, I was fortunate enough to cross paths with a man named Billy Dillard. Billy became a mentor and a huge influence on my life. I was one of hundreds of “Billy’s Boys” who over the years, gathered at his house every week, shared a devotion and then talked about what we were glad about, sad about and sorry about. On any given day, there might be 30 guys or there might be 2. But Billy had his door open with a frozen pizza and a generic soda waiting for you. It...

When you envision yourself in retirement, do you picture yourself in a busy city or a more relaxed suburb? Before you make that decision, remember that cities and their surrounding suburbs vary widely from one another. And some smaller cities can feel like the suburbs while some sprawling suburbs can have a more urban vibe. Cities offer an almost limitless variety of activities, restaurants and places to explore. Suburbs also offer things to do, but the lifestyle is more low key. Each locale has its own upsides and downsides. Here are the pros and cons to weigh for city versus suburban retirement living:

• There is no shortage of entertainment and cultural attractions in a city. There is...

Outdoor kitchens are becoming a staple in modern home design, transforming backyards into functional and stylish extensions of indoor living spaces. Imagine enjoying the warm weather, cooking up a feast and entertaining guests in the comfort of your outdoor oasis. Here's how you can bring your cooking expertise outside:

Key features to consider

• Grill station: This is the centerpiece of any outdoor kitchen. Opt for a high-quality grill that suits your cooking style, whether a classic gas grill, a charcoal option or a smoker.
• Prep space: Include ample counter space for food preparation. Durable materials like granite or stainless steel are ideal for withstanding the elements.
  Storage so...

Lenders and banks check your credit before they approve you for new credit cards or loans. They do this to be sure that in the past you've paid your debts on time. If you have, you are more likely to pay your new loan or credit card payments on time.

When lenders check your credit in response to your request for a new loan or credit card,  it's known as a hard inquiry. These inquiries are listed on your three credit reports. And each inquiry could cause your three-digit credit score to dip by about five points.

Why? The more credit or loan debt you take on, the more likely you are to miss payments. Lenders are especially worried that if you apply for several credit cards or loans at onc...

Most people think of a shared bedroom with a layout having either side-by-side twin beds or a set of bunk beds. While both options work very well, there are other, more creative solutions to this living situation you may want to try. Of course, you will need to consider the amount of space available when choosing the layout that's right for your family.

Twin beds — Instead of orienting twin beds side by side, why not place them foot to foot? The same can be done with cribs if you have twin babies. If you like the idea of side-by-side beds, tie them together and use a single shared headboard behind them. A mural covering the entire wall will also connect the beds harmoniously. Another opt...

This article completes our 3 part series on the impact of the presidential election cycle on the real estate market. 

We uncovered a few key statistics:

In the month of September, Buyers are 10.58% more active and sellers are 7.60% more active during an election year versus a non-election year.

October is a little different with sellers being 6.11% more active during an election but only a difference of 2.32% for buyer activity. The would indicate a buyer’s behavior slows down significantly from September to October during an election year. 

Looking at November data, the numbers pick back up with the buyers being 6.96% more active during an election year versus a non-election year. Pl...

The bathroom is evolving into a high-tech sanctuary designed to enhance your daily routine. From smart gadgets to innovative materials, here are five product lines that reflect what will be in the bathrooms of the future and how they can revolutionize your mornings.

Smart showers and bathtubs

Smart showers allow you to set your preferred water temperature, pressure and duration before stepping in. Some models can even remember individual preferences for every family member. Future bathtubs come with integrated mood lighting, sound systems and water jets, for a spa-like experience right at home. Imagine ending your day with a relaxing soak perfectly tailored to your specifications.

Inte...

Supply of homes to sell and demand typically both go down during the month of November which results in the Months Supply of homes remaining flat. When supply and demand both go down in almost equal proportion, prices almost always stay flat. This is demonstrated by the median sales price only decreasing from $334,000 to $333,000.

Most metrics for November 2024 data match November 2023 indicating that the market is experiencing a plateau. Interestingly, if you compare November data to two years ago, median prices are only up by 4.3% and inventory is up by almost 30%. As supply continues to outpace demand, price increases should continue to slow down. I’m not sure they will drop significa...

A monochromatic color scheme means that your room design is based on one dominant color. To achieve interest and texture, various shades and tones of the color are added throughout the space. Essentially you are layering the same color on the same color in varying degrees of color intensity.

Start with a base color for the walls. You will want to make sure that the color you choose is one you can appreciate over time. Consider the amount of light the room receives during the day and decide if you want to either brighten the room or tone it down with color. From there, think about what lighter and darker shades of the color will look best on the furniture, accessories and wall trim. Desig...

Up against the wall — Create a place for many of your belongings by installing a full wall of cabinets with drawers. If you are a cyclist, you will need a place to store your bike. There are several off-the-floor storage systems for mounting your bike on the wall. Squeeze a storage unit with multiple shelves and drawers into a stretch of unused wall. Try to fit the unit as close as possible to the wall dimensions to give it a built-in appearance. Consider where you may have other empty wall space — for example, a shelf over a sofa to display small works of art. Maybe there is room for books above the bed in place of a headboard.

No closets, no problem — Add a portable storage unit to you...