Good morning folks and a Happy Friday to you! With the year winding down I was just sitting here thinking how blessed I am. It's been a good year, my best year yet! Helping all those nice folks who are relocating to the Greenville area! I've got 6 under contract right now and everything is moving smoothly. But beyond that I'm thankful that I'm healthy, I have a wonderful family. And I have a profession I love! Buyer Success Story Just closed two transactions with some great people. A first time home buyer and a couple from Hungary! They were kind enough to share reviews at my Zillow page. Please check it out. I also have a number of buyers visiting now trying to find that right property, from horse property to downtown …
Greenville and the Upstate are Horse Country!
Upstate South Carolina Greenville and the Upstate area up to Tryon is quickly becoming horse country. That right folks. I'm getting more and more calls to find horse property in the Greenville area. With the opening of The Tryon International Equestrian Center horse properties are becoming hot. And, by the way I recently had a success story with a great couple looking for a working horse farm in the Greenville area! Buyer Success Story Rick and Yulia had been watching my Horse Farms page for a couple of years and finally decided to make the move to the area. Rick and I met to look at a farm on the southeast side of Greenville and hit it off immediately. After a few more trips out and quite a bit of analysis he decided on a …
Success with Greenville First Time Home Buyers!
Good morning all! Hey, I've had quite a few closings with first time home buyers in the Greenville SC area lately and wanted to share a few reviews with you here, Don Wessel Zillow Reviews! (Last 3 are first time home buyers). Buyer Success Story I tell ya, I so enjoy working with first time home buyers. Being a buyer's agent it gives me great pleasure helping them purchase their first home in the Greenville area. Actually, I helped one nice fellow buy over in Boiling Springs! I think he is very happy! So, why do first time home buyers need help? Well, this is all new to them. I'm their guide. As their buyer's agent, I show them the homes, I pull the comps and assist with the offer, I help them negotiate a fair price, I guide …
Zillow, The Good, Bad and The Ugly…
Good morning everyone! Hey, I've got a question for you. Have you ever heard of a company named Zillow? Are you familiar with their web site? Have you ever used Zillow's website to look for real estate? I guess these are just rhetorical questions at best and silly at worst. Maybe I should say, "if you have never heard of Zillow then please remove your fingers from the keyboard and smack yourself in the forehead?" If you actually smacked yourself, please email me now. I doubt I will receive any emails.... sigh..... Zillow Experiences So, why am I blogging about Zillow this morning? I've actually wanted to for some time but a couple of things that have recently happened prompted me to do so. Here goes. I'm currently working …
New Yorkers Love Greenville SC Real Estate Taxes!
Many Benefits in Greenville, South Carolina Good morning folks, and very happy Monday to you! I hope you had a great weekend. Hey, you know, I had a very nice family in from the New York area last week. The gentleman was a COO for a Hedge Fund and works on Madison Ave. He and his wife and son were visiting the area. Why, well it's Greenville, South Carolina of course! Warmer Weather, Lower Taxes He is thinking about retiring and he's just tired of the cold winters, the traffic, the cost of living and all that goes with that area. I've actually helped a number of people buy from the New York area. Anywho, we got to talking about taxes... and you know what he pays in real estate taxes on his home? Oh, come on guess. Really, …
Success at Riverbend Condos in Greenville SC!
Buyer Success Story Hi folks, I know it's been a while but I've had some vacation I've been taking and when I'm not on vacation seems like I'm covered up. Hopefully I can get back to some regular posting and updating pages now. Want to share with you a recent success story with a very nice couple who relocated from Florida and a wonderful renovation they did at Riverbend Condos in Greenville! These folks got interested in Greenville and started making a few trips to visit. They loved the downtown and actually had someone who would let them use their place at Virginia Condos. This gave them a great opportunity to explore the downtown Greenville area. Well, they decide to make the move and we started watching the real estate market …
Real Estate Drip Marketing
Not Like Other Greenville Realtors Good morning and a happy Saturday to ya! Going to be hot in Greenville again. Hey, I had a minute so I thought I'd ask you if you would like to be dripped on? Let me explain. Well, I got a call from a very nice fellow in the New York area a few weeks ago. He just called to tell me how much he enjoyed my web site and then brought up something that had just happened to him. He was on another site, and either had to sign into it or just asked a question about a home he saw. Well, he immediately started getting a barrage of phone calls and emails from an unknown Greenville Real Estate Agent. This Greenville Realtor nearly drove him up the wall, so finally this guy told the realtor to quit bugging …
One Reason I Enjoy Being a Greenville Realtor and Buyer’s Agent
Being a Buyer's Agent Being a realtor in Greenville SC or anywhere can be a rewarding profession. And I think most realtors, and especially exclusive buyer's agents understand the impact they can make on a person's life. Well, I just got through helping a wonderful couple with a move to Rolling Green Retirement Village. They were moving there for health reason. Some of the best folks I've met. Buyer Success Story They were kind enough to review me and I'm very humbled by their words, so folks below is one of the reasons I'm an exclusive buyer's agent: "We recently looked at several retirement places with continuing care. When I saw a house in Rolling Green Village advertised in the paper, I went on line and looked it up. By …
One Reason I Enjoy Being a Greenville Realtor and Buyer’s AgentRead More
Market Data and School Information Added to Search Results!
Good morning everyone. What a beautiful morning it is too. Hey, just wanted to mention that I've currently updated my search results pages to include market trend information and school information. This is a great feature that many of you have inquired about and now friends it's here! Enjoy! Here is an example: Contact Don Wessel, Realtor Call me today at (864) 335-8490 …
Market Data and School Information Added to Search Results!Read More
Do You have a Quality Realtor in Greenville SC?
Folks, It's time to vent a bit. The market is on fire, hey I get it. And yes there are 4 times as many realtors in Greenville SC as there was when I started. So, should that effect the quality of service you get from a Greenville Realtor? I would hope not, but in realty it does. First of all there are a lot of realtors selling homes in Greenville who are either new, don't know the area or have just moved here. I'm going to give you a few examples of some recent things that have happened over the last few months to illustrate my point. Buyer Success Stories I recently posted here about a couple who bought new construction with me. If you read that post I've got an example of a realtor hurting their seller's position by not …
New Home Construction in Taylors SC
Taylors, South Carolina Good morning everyone. I just had a closing with a great couple who are relocating from the Asheville area. I met them back in February and we looked at a number of resales. We then decided to try some new construction in Riverbend Estates in Taylors SC. I'm always a little nervous about new construction, particularly in developing areas but we went anyway. Well, I'm pleased to say that we just closed this beautiful home last week and they are tickled! They went ahead and added a pool too! I'll tell you, I'm real happy for them and the builder went above and beyond, so that really pleased me. Buyer Success Story As an aside I want to add a story about working with this couple. You know truth is sometimes …
More Happy Greenville SC Home Buyers!
Good morning everyone! What a beautiful day, looks like it's going to be in the mid 80s in the Greenville area this day! I love satisfied buyers, and I had 3 that were kind enough to post reviews of me on my Zillow page. Two were first time home buyers and that is so rewarding seeing that smiling face at the closing table. By the way, I just met with another first time home buyer yesterday and our process has begun! Yes folks, it's a process pure and simple! One I've done 100s of times over the last 13 years! Hey, hope you and your family have a wonderful Memorial Day! God Bless America! Contact Don Wessel, Realtor Call me today at (864) 335-8490 …
Why I’m a Buyer’s Agent
Exclusive Buyer's Agent Good morning folks! I hope you had a great weekend! Gosh we've had the rain but hopefully it will clear up by Wednesday. So, why am I a buyer's agent? Why am I one of the few really exclusive buyer's agents in Greenville SC? I like people making good decisions! You see, I used to list homes early in my career and just like every other Tom, Dick, Harry and Linda out there I would list as many homes as I could and pick up buyers who called in requesting a showing or information on that home. If they wouldn't buy my home then I'd try and get them to buy another home with me. A Home Buyer's Resource Well, I really didn't like doing business that way. One thing I didn't like was that my listing was …
I Know Greenville SC Better Than You!
Greenville, SC Real Estate Experience Good morning and happy day after Tax Day! How depressing, anywho let's move on. Folks, I've been here about 30 years and like I mentioned in a current video, I was here when Greenville wasn't cool. So, if you are from out of town and looking to buy a home in the Greenville SC area, I can help. Here's the thing though, I know the area better than you. 30 years helps. I say that because on many occasions I have people from a different states contact me to look for real estate. Generally, we will have a meeting to discuss their wants and needs. Usually they will have a few homes for sale that they want to go look for. Then I'll run a search in the MLS and recommend some of my own. Most of …
First Time Home Buyers in Greenville SC!
First Time Home Buyers in Greenville, SC! I really enjoy working with all types of buyers but I really enjoy working with first time home buyers in the Greenville South Carolina. And I'm actually working with two first time home buyers now. I just helped a young lady put a home in the North Main area of Greenville under contract. And I've got a very nice young lady who works at Clemson that I am trying to find a condo for. So why do I enjoy first time home buyers? Well, these buyers probably need the most help. Do you remember when you bought your first home? I do and let me tell you a little story: Years of Experience Many years ago my wife and I were trying to buy our first home in Greenville. We were looking in the Augusta …
Greenville SC Housing Market on The Rise!
Greenville Housing Market Update Good morning! I've been saying for some time now that real estate activity in the Greenville area is up... How can I tell, well by two of the best years I've had in real estate. In my opinion the last 3 to 4 years have been good but I guess I don't really gauge it on housing starts in Greenville. But looks like from the recent meeting of the National Association of Home Builders in Greenville yesterday that it's predicted that single family housing starts will grow by 17% this year. Hey, that's a whole lot of great new homes for sale in Greenville SC! The interesting thing is that this would bring supply and demand close to being equal as it was in 2003. I just help a lot more buyers with resales …
New Glass Building Planned in Downtown Greenville
Downtown Greenville, SC Good morning! Hey, there's a new modern glass building going in on a very popular spot in downtown Greenville SC! This is pretty cool folks and from what I understand it will be sorta like the Apple Store in New York! Don't know if you know but The Greenville News old building sits on this corner right across from the Peace Center for The Performing Arts. So this is a great spot. Well, The Greenville News moved to Spartanburg. I was wondering who was going to eventually build here. The building is going to be named Camperdown. It looks like it may contain retail, offices, condos and even a dinner movie theater! Based on some of the design plans I'm hearing about it will be spectacular! Wow, just can't believe …
Are You The Experiment?
Are You The Experiment? I had a real nice couple with me yesterday I was showing who are relocating to the area. They had picked out about 6 homes to see and one of the neighborhoods I just couldn't place. It was our last showing and as we were driving up I immediately remembered it. I showed in there about 6 months ago and I told my buyers then that I noticed no one has bought in the neighborhood. There were 6 or 7 houses completed in there. Don't get me wrong the houses appeared nice but I told them it was pretty risky to be the first one to purchase. They bought elsewhere. Buyer's Agents Help Home Buyers Well yesterday going back....boy was I right. The developer had completely let the place run down. As we drove in I said "folks, now …
Let’s Time the Market
Let's Time The Market Timing the real estate market is just as difficult as timing the stock market. Unlike stocks, real estate is local. Folks, I can't say enough about this. Here in Greenville we get a little bit tired of the doom and gloom from the national media about real estate as a whole. Again, real estate is local. I visited with some past clients who want to sell their home this spring and want to do it as a For Sale By Owner. They bought from me about 4 years ago in a nice popular neighborhood. Their son in going to college next year and just wants to downsize a bit. So let's see, will they make any money on their home, you know the media tells us our housing market is the worst since whenever they can come up with. My past …
Seller’s Disclosure
South Carolina Seller's Disclosure Good morning. Thought I'd write a bit about the South Carolina Residential Property Condition Disclosure Report. Beginning in January of 2003, South Carolina required owners of residential real estate to provide the purchaser a SDS (Seller's Disclosure Statement). There are four pages to the form with the first page being an explanation to the seller. The seller is asked 24 questions regarding the condition of the property. The statement must be provided in connection with the sale, exchange, option and sale under lease with an option to purchase. One box must be checked for each of the 24 questions. Here's an example: Roof (leakage or other problem)? a. Approximate age of roof covering …