What Caused the Mortgage Meltdown in South Carolina? The Housing Crisis in Columbia?

FSBO, Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, problems, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

For those of you who have read this blog for a while, you know I think the whole concept of having some sort of meltdown or crisis in the real estate economy is a bunch of “hooey”.  Perhaps I’m a bit spoiled, here in Columbia, South Carolina where the market is basically insulated from any wild swings in property values.  However, for those that are convinced we are in crisis mode, this two-part video is just for you.


Part One:  

Be sure to click “read the rest” to see part two of this fascinating report!

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Bigger Mortgages from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Could be Coming Soon!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, government, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina No Comments

As the latest stimulus package is winding its way through Congress right now, more details are coming out.  In addtion to taxpayers getting up to $1,200 in checks, there’s also a part of the plan that will temporarily raise the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  This package targets major metro areas with high housing costs. 

With a median price of around $140,000, Columbia, South Carolina is nowhere near the ceiling for either program.  However, the programs will allow the new limit to be 125% of the median price range.  No matter how you slice it, this plan is great news for buyers and those of us in the real estate industry.

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FREE Money From the Government! Really!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, credit, event, first time, first time buyer, government, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, law, lexington, mortgage, real estate, realtor, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

kathy smith, realtor, free money, stimulus package, housing, house, economy, seller, buyer, buying, selling, real estate, columbia, sc, south carolinaIt is absolutely amazing the stories and headlines that have been in the press lately.  They are screaming about the economy heading into a recession and are finding new and innovative ways to help out ‘the common man’.  Granted, the Columbia, South Carolina  economy is doing very well, thank you…but who am I to turn down free money like this?

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Mortgage Rates Hit a Historic 5.5% Low!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina No Comments

When the Fed announced they were cutting their rate to  loan money to banks, I knew those of us In South Carolina were about to get a huge gift from good old Uncle Sam.  Shortly after, I started seeing rates of 5.5% for a 30 year, fixed mortgage.   But is this too good to be true?  Could it last?  What could it mean to the larger economic picture? Read the rest…

Reality Check for Columbia, South Carolina’s Real Estate Market

FSBO, Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, blythewood, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, open house, prices, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

Home for saleWhat exactly is the current situation in the Columbia or also known as the Midlands, South Carolina housing market? I researched the period of November 1 - November 30th to see where we stand as a marketplace. I have looked at the entire market, from Columbia to Irmo, Chapin and Lexington, Blythewood to Newberry County to Kershaw County to Aiken and Orangeburg.

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Freeze Your Credit Report - Well, Voluntarily in South Carolina

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, activity, buyer, buying, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, identity theft, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, law, lexington, mortgage, problems, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

iciclesThere has been a lot of commotion about the new “Credit Freeze” laws that have been enacted as of November 1, 2007 that give consumers more control over who views their credit reports and why.  However, the state of South Carolina is not one of the states in compliance with these laws which are mandated on a state-by-state basis.    The states that have adopted a consumer credit freeze law allow you the right to completely freeze all activity on your credit report, for a fee.  South Carolina residents are getting freezes from credit reporting agencies on a “voluntary” basis.  Read the rest…

Relocating to Columbia, South Carolina?

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, blythewood, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, fort jackson, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina 1 Comment

The boss calls you into his or her office to give you the news.  Starting after the holidays, you will now be located in Columbia, South Carolina.  “South Carolina?” you ask.  Heck, other than Myrtle Beach, you don’t know much about the state.  In addition, you’ve got to break the news to your other half and begin the process of relocation.  Suddenly you feel overwhelmed.  What are you to do?

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Friday’s Mortgage Rates from Bank of America

ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buying, chapin, columbia, first time buyer, home, house, irmo, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, real estate, realtor, sc, south carolina No Comments

Check it out - rates are still very low.  Here’s today’s rates from Bank of America.

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Are You Ready to be a First Time Homebuyer?

Lake Murray, Midlands, ballentine, blythewood, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, first time, first time buyer, home, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina No Comments

There usually is a point in most of our lives that the never ending urging of our friends, family, boss, co-workers, practically everyone you meet saying you need to buy a home becomes too much.  “You should buy a house,” they say.  “It’s a great investment.”  But are you ready?  Read the rest…

Help! I’m “Upside Down” in My House!

FSBO, Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, blythewood, chapin, columbia, cow lady, home, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, selling, south carolina No Comments

What the heck does “upside down” or “inequity position” mean and is a “short sale” an easy fix? Find out about some of the details for Columbia’s homeowners from Kathy here.

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