Broker's Corner: August 19

Fri, Aug 25th 2017 2:16 pm by Allison VanderVeer Life on St Simons

SAFER THAN SAFE / A SECOND CAUSEWAY?

Through the years there has been a discussion about a 'second causeway' for St. Simons Island. There was a time when such talk was more than whimsical; I think there may have even been some preliminary investigation into the idea.

But time passed, St. Simons and Sea Island became connected to Mainland Brunswick via our modern, fixed span 4-laner complete with bike path (thanks, Commissioner Sam Cofer. RIP), and such talk subsided; except during hurricane season.

A week or so ago 'The News' wrote about how safe St. Simons Island is. Over the years, an absence of serious crime with just a sprinkling of the milder sort makes this place safer than saf...



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Broker's Corner: August 5

Fri, Aug 11th 2017 9:41 am by Allison VanderVeer Local Market Insight

YOUR AGENT SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGABLE -- AN UNDERSTATEMENT! Last week found me in the mountains of North Carolina and in the back seat of a Realtor’s car doing what we in our business love: looking at property. Miss Paige was up front conversing with and asking questions of our driver. Although not my style, I sat mostly quiet in the back seat observing and listening. 

What came clear in this experience was a reminder that we Realtors are not just tour-guides, but professionals in our market place and valuable to our customers and clients. An old broker buddy once told me of his learning curve with young bucks he hired out of college when computers and electronic data bases were first being ...



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Broker's Corner: August 12

Fri, Aug 11th 2017 9:37 am by Allison VanderVeer Life on St Simons
BROKERS CORNER.  
SAFER THAN SAFE / A SECOND CAUSEWAY?
Through the years there has been a discussion about a 'second causeway' for St. Simons Island.  There was a time when such talk was more than whimsical; I think there may have even been some preliminary investigation into the idea.
But time passed, St. Simons and Sea Island became connected to Mainland Brunswick via our modern, fixed span 4-laner complete with bike path (thanks,  Commissioner Sam Cofer.  RIP), and such talk subsided; except during hurricane season.  
A week or so ago 'The News' wrote about how safe St. Simons Island is.  Over the years, an absence of serious crime with just a sprinkling of the milder sort ...


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Broker's Corner: July 29

Fri, Aug 11th 2017 9:35 am by Allison VanderVeer Local Market Insight
BROKER'S CORNER.  
IF I WERE KING  & ISLAND TRAFFIC.
To say Glynn County is experiencing growing pains is an understatement.  Nowhere is that more evident than in traffic on St. Simons Island.  We're making some headway but there's more to be done. 
The island is one of those idyllic places where residents walk dogs and babies; bicyclists ride both on sidewalks and streets.  Visitors and locals alike take converted golf carts to and from beaches and shopping and eateries.  It's not a place to be impatient.  
If I were king, the rules would be: Pedestrians walking always have the right of way, whether crossing roads or strolling sidewalks.  That may actually be the law; I've no...


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LOTS OF LOTS!

Mon, Jul 24th 2017 12:50 pm by Allison VanderVeer St Simons Island Real Estate
BROKER'S CORNER: JULY 22
 
All of Coastal Georgia is experiencing tremendous building activity and nowhere is that more noticeable than on St. Simons Island. We’re seeing every scrap of buildable property in the south end of the island covered up with new bricks and sticks.
 
At mid-island – typically above Sea Island Road and below the Lawrence / Frederica Roads roundabout – residential building activity is unprecedented. If you read ‘The Brunswick News’ regularly you know the issues with inadequate water & sewer supply and understaffed planning and zoning people. It sometimes seems we’re chasing our tail as pent up demand from 6 years of the local recession still ...


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Broker's Corner July 15

Wed, Jul 19th 2017 12:30 pm by Allison VanderVeer Local Market Insight

INTEREST RATES.

Many years ago, when I broke into real estate sales, mortgage interest rates were pushed to nearly 19% for a brief period; that was the end of 1980. I had borrowed money for one of my first homes at 11.125 % in 1979 and considered myself lucky!

But these historically high rates began trending downward, making housing more affordable for more people.Rates hovered around 12% in the late 80’s, and the 8% range prevailed during most of the 90’s. The turn of the century saw rates begin to drop into the range of today’s fabulously inexpensive range under 5%; 3.5% to 4.5% is where we have been for the last several years.

It’s fair to assume you and I couldn’t afford the hous...



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Broker's Corner

Wed, Jul 19th 2017 12:27 pm by Allison VanderVeer St Simons Island Real Estate

BROKER'S CORNER FROM JULY 1:

In our business, these are heady times; rentals are strong and sales prices are moving up. If you want a south end cottage it'll cost you upwards of $400,000. If you want 'walk to the beach' or closer, you'll begin to find cottages at the $550,000 and (quickly) up range. True walking distance to the beaches begins at $700,000.

We're not overheated; it's a shortage of inventory issue in both single family and condos. If pricing drives your interest, then a condominium purchase may be more attractive, for your first property here; prices start at about half of single family. I want to share some interesting information gleaned from our multiple listing...



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SSI Update from Roland Daniel: March 2017

Mon, Mar 13th 2017 12:13 pm by Allison VanderVeer St Simons Island Real Estate

LONG OVERDUE SSI UPDATE FOR 2017. It's been a while since I posted the 'STATE OF REAL ESTATE' here on Saint Simons Island AND Coastal Georgia. So, here goes, from Roland's point of view.

2016 was a very strong year of recovery for real estate here in the Golden Isles. Indeed, our recovery began 2013 after the nightmarish 6 years of local downturn that began in early 2007. Actually, we couldn't see it, but things died in the fourth quarter of '06.

Then business began to return and we noticed LESS FORCLOSURES and LESS NEW LISTINGS and MORE INVENTORY TURNOVER. The upturn in business began in earnest, and without hiccups, in 2014. Slowly at first but now quick-paced, the market is heating u...



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2017: Local Market Insight

Mon, Dec 5th 2016 9:57 am by Local Market Insight

December is here marking the end of another year of real estate recovery for the Golden Isles. St. Simons Island and Brunswick markets are 'back'! That's no exaggeration, as we have experienced a 25% growth in our business at Roland Daniel Properties.

All facets of the SSI market are up: condos, single family, homesites.

I expect the trend to continue in a steady climb for 2017. We've been short of inventory, making way for the new construction pace to increase and be absorbed. Here's something to watch: As prices climb, those who have been upside down in value since the recession will find themselves in position to put properties on the market. Thus, we should see more inventory come...



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