Posts by : Rosette Garcia

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...

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...

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...

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...

Mortgage interest rates are higher today than they were three years ago. If you are buying a home and applying for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage today, you can expect an interest rate near 7%, even if you have a solid credit score. Is there a way around this?

Assuming a mortgage

An assumable mortgage is one that a home's seller can transfer to the home's buyer, who then takes over payments on the existing mortgage. Not too long ago, many homeowners qualified for 30-year, fixed-rate loans with interest rates around 3%. If you can assume such a mortgage, you can save significantly in monthly payments given  today's near 7% rate.

Experian says that if you take out a $320,000 30-year, fix...

The Story Behind the Name: Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is one of the most beloved vacation destinations on the East Coast, but have you ever wondered how it got its name? The story takes us back to the turn of the 20th century, when this now-bustling resort town was just a quiet stretch of South Carolina coastline. Many locals viewed the beach as worthless since you couldn’t grow timber, rice or tobacco there. 

From “New Town” to “Myrtle Beach”

In the late 1800s, what we now call Myrtle Beach was part of the Withers Swash area and referred to as “New Town” by locals. The land was largely undeveloped, owned by the Burroughs & Collins Company, which envisioned transforming it into a seasid...

Characterized by simple, functional teak furniture, MCM style is valued for its form-follows-function principle. The clean lines of the furnishings of this period are designed to take up as little space as possible, which is why they adapt well to small spaces. The ornate frilly details of the past were no longer desirable for people who wanted to raise their families in a simpler setting. According to one designer, "Every piece serves a purpose and beyond, casting shadows on the days where rooms were beholden to being used once a year for a special occasion due to their ornate, elaborate design."

MCM is in sync with today's passion for natural materials. The hallmark of the style is the...

Revamping a single room or creating the right "look" for an entire home can be an overwhelming and costly process. There are a multitude of interior decorating decisions you need to make, including choice of color schemes, furniture style, floor coverings, window treatments, lighting and accessories. There is no doubt that hiring a professional to take charge of the project from beginning to end will save you time and energy.

Your first question is probably cost. According to a recent Forbes report, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $250 per hour on average. Flat rate costs can range from $1,500 to $15,000, depending on the scope. If you are planning to customize the furniture o...

Home inspections and appraisals are not the same. Let's explore the differences between them and why both are so important.

When do you order a home inspection?

You order a home inspection after you make an offer on a house and the seller accepts it. Your home inspector will tour the property, looking for problems both large and small. When the report arrives, you finalize the sale, adjusting the price in light of what the inspector found.

For example, if the inspector found a major issue such as a sinking foundation or a damaged roof, you can request that the seller fix the problem, lower the house's final sale price or provide you with the funds to hire a contractor on your own.

In ...

No one relishes the thought of spending time deep cleaning their kitchen, but it is a job that must be done. While everyday spills and messes are cleaned up as they happen, over time, dirt accumulates in hard-to-reach places that are often overlooked. Places like under appliances, above cabinets and inside the refrigerator are prime targets that need some much-needed cleaning attention. Don't expect to get the job done in one day, as it can be tiring. Set aside several days to complete the work by keying in on specific areas of the kitchen. 

To get the process started, there are a few necessary things to have on hand. Like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, you may find things go easier if...

If you work as a freelancer or independent contractor, your income might vary from month to month. Maybe one month you generate $8,000 of income but the next only $4,500. You might be satisfied with your yearly income, but mortgage lenders might balk at the way your earnings fluctuate each month.

Why? Because mortgage lenders want to be certain that you can afford your mortgage payment each month, not just during those in which your income is high. Lenders look for consistent income.

Does this mean that you can’t qualify for a mortgage if your income rises and falls each month? Not at all. You’ll just have to take extra steps to reassure your lender that you won’t miss any mortgage paym...

How much you'll pay to refinance your mortgage depends on the size of your loan and your lender's closing costs. In general, though, you can expect to pay from 2% to 6% of the amount you are borrowing in closing costs. Say you are refinancing a $200,000 mortgage. You can expect most lenders to charge you from $4,000 to $12,000 in closing costs.

Why so much money? There are plenty of closing costs involved in a refinance. You'll need to pay your lender's origination fee, pay a fee to the appraiser who determines the market value of your home and cover the cost of your new loan's title insurance.

Closing costs, then, involve a lot of money, which is why many homeowners opt for no-closing-...

There's a natural ebb and flow of supply and demand with condos along the Grand Strand. As the fall approaches, it is prime time to find a vacation condo or an income producing condo. Typically, as summer ends, owners have enjoyed the property one last summer and they are going to list it. Or, they have maximized the rental income through the summer and they are listing it as the season ends. This means there should be more inventory to choose from and also that the properties are easier to see. Please note- this means you’re signing up for HOA payments through the slower winter rental season. If you plan to use this is a vacation home, perfect! If you are planning to rent it out, please ...

Start by looking at your three-digit FICO credit score. This number sums up how well you've handled your credit and paid your bills. The higher this number, the more likely you are to be ready for the financial responsibility of a monthly mortgage payment.

FICO scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850, with most lenders considering scores of 800 or higher to be excellent ones and those of 740 or higher to be very good. If you are close to those scores, it shows that you've done a good job of paying your bills and using your credit, skills that are essential when you take on the added responsibility of a monthly mortgage payment.

You can buy your FICO scores from the national cred...

If you're buying or selling a home, you'll be working with a new set of rules as of August 17, 2024. According to a press release from the National Association of Realtors, offers of compensation will no longer be allowed on multiple listing services. However, "offers of compensation will continue to be an option consumers can pursue off-MLS through negotiation and consultation with real estate professionals."

Furthermore, says the NAR, "agents working with a buyer must enter into a written buyer agreement before touring a home."

What does this mean in practice?

An article on Bankrate says, "The biggest change is that listing agents (the age ​​​​​​​nts who represent home sellers) may n...

Eclectic decor allows you to select the best of all worlds by choosing your favorite elements from the decorating styles that best express your preferences. The key to pulling off this style with fun and taste is to be selective in what you choose. An eclectic living room expresses your personality with a relaxed and casual atmosphere that is well thought out. The room should not look cluttered and chaotic.

While eclectic decor does not have a set rule book to follow, there are some characteristics that do define the style:

• Color sense — An eclectic room should be anchored with one neutral color on the walls. From there, add in bold, vibrant hues and tones. Don't be afraid to choose c...