To understand how much your home is worth, it's important to understand the variety of factors that go into assessing the value, both existing (assessed and appraised) value, as well as potential real value on the market. 

There are thousands of data points extrapolated to determine home values and sale prices — some of which are obvious (like the condition of the home), and some that aren't so obvious.

Check out these 3 surprising things that can affect either the existing value of your home or the price someone is willing to pay for it, all based on data.

1. HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO A STARBUCKS

Believe it or not, Harvard Business School actually did a study on this. Having a Starbucks open near a neighborhood could increase nearby home values. They were really studying gentrification of neighborhoods using Yelp data, but discovered the "Starbucks effect" during their research.

"Harvard economics professor Edward Glaeser says he believes the home price rises are not due to the actual Starbucks opening but may be more of an indicator of affluent customers in the area. 'The presence of a Starbucks is far less important than whether the community has people who consume Starbucks,' Glaeser notes in the paper. Consequently, we think that this variable is likely to be a proxy for gentrification itself. … The most natural hypothesis to us is that restaurants respond to exogenous changes in neighborhood composition, not that restaurant availability is driving neighborhood change.”

Other home value data showed that homes within a quarter-mile of a Starbucks increased in value by 96%, on average, compared with 65% for all U.S. homes between 1997 and 2014.

If you're not near a Starbucks, don't worry. The same data showed that homes near Dunkin' Donuts during that same time period appreciated 80%...not as much as Starbucks, but well above the average 65%.

2. BLUE KITCHENS & BATHROOMS

Of course, all-around curb appeal plays a huge role in the sale of your home, but surprisingly, the colors you've painted rooms can make a big difference in the sales price of your home. Especially the color of kitchens and bathrooms.

"According to Zillow's 2017 Paint Color Analysis, which examined more than 32,000 photos from sold homes around the country, homes with blue kitchens sold for a $1,809 premium, compared to similar homes with white kitchens."

Blue was also a good financial choice for bathrooms as well. The same paint color analysis showed that homes with light pale blue bathrooms sold on average for $5,440 more money than other homes. What??

Notable is the fact that blue seems to transcend some of the color trends and remains steady as the favorite color of both men and women. 

It is also the color that most evokes "Truth."

Trust: Most chose the color blue (34%), followed by white (21%) and green (11%)

Security: Blue came out on top (28%), followed by black (16%) and green (12%)

High Quality: Black was the clear winner (43%), then blue (20%)

Reliability: Blue was the top choice (43%), followed by black (24%)

Additionally, walls that are painted in neutral colors signal that a home is well cared for.

FYI: Trend forecasting service WGSN has revealed that a pastel shade of green, coined "neo mint", will dominate the worlds of fashion and interiors in 2020. 

3. TRENDY FEATURES

Homes that feature things like "shiplap," "barn doors," and "farmhouse sinks" sell faster and for a premium...then you Joanna Gaines.

As an example of this, data analysis showed that listings with "barn door" in the description sold for 13.4 percent more than expected, and 57 days faster than comparable homes without the keyword.

Meanwhile, "farmhouse sink" led to a nearly 8-percent sales premium. Something to keep in mind is that these features don't seem to be increasing the value of the home off-market, but the popularity of the trends at the time of sale DEFINITELY make a difference in the property's popularity.

More people than ever are buying homes which is great news! It means more people have a chance at building wealth through homeownership. But if you really want to build wealth, you have to build equity.

Home equity is the percentage of your home's market value that you own...and it's key to building wealth through homeownership. Of course, one obvious way to do this is to increase your down payment. Your down payment usually equals instant equity. However, a larger down payment isn't always an option. Plus, as you'll see below, sometimes waiting to accrue more money for a larger down payment means you'll be losing out on appreciation.

Here are 5 more ways to build equity in your home: 

1. Let your home appreciate

Building equity through appreciation can take little time or a lot, depending on the market. With home prices going up like they have in recent years, many home owners have seen their equity increase rapidly. 

"Zillow research indicates that the median home value grew from $185,000 in April 2016 to $216,000 in April 2018. If you bought a home for $185,000 in April 2016 with a down payment of $12,950, your beginning 7-percent equity would have grown to 23 percent by April 2018.

We calculate this by subtracting your current loan balance ($165,600) from your home’s current value ($216,000). Then we divide the difference by your home’s current value. One-eighth of this additional 16 percent equity is from paying down your mortgage, and the rest is market appreciation.

If you waited two years and bought the same home in April 2018 with a 20-percent down payment of $43,200, you started off with 20-percent equity. You also used 3.3 times more cash to make the purchase. And here's the kicker: Your total monthly housing cost would be the same — about $1,050 in both cases."

3. Use financial bonuses

Use work bonuses, family gifts, inheritances, or other unexpected windfalls to pay down your mortgage. And if you do make a significant lump sum payment, check with your lender to see if they will recalculate your payment based on the new, lower balance.

4. Make biweekly payments

As long as your lender doesn't charge you extra for processing semi-monthly payments, make mortgage payments every two weeks instead of once a month. Over the course of a year, this will add up to 13 monthly payments instead of 12. You'll build equity faster and shave five to six years off a 30-year mortgage. 

5. Get a 15-Year Mortgage

Take out a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage, and you'll build equity twice as fast. Keep in mind you'll have a significantly higher monthly payment and, because of that, you may have a tougher time qualifying.

6. Make home improvements

While new appliances or cosmetic features like paint are unlikely to increase the value that much, big improvements like new kitchens,  additional bathrooms or other rooms will add meaningful value. Make sure the cost of such improvements will create the added value you're looking for.

Although the beautiful summer weather will stick around for a while, the official summer season is coming to an end. (*Insert sad face emoji here) We're all about taking advantage of some of the special summer events along the Grand Strand!

Locals know the place to be on Sunday night is the Boathouse in Myrtle Beach and the last show of the season is this Sunday! Perched along the bank of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Boathouse's Summer Concert Series is a Sunday Grand Strand tradition featuring National & Regional touring bands on their famous "waterway stage.”Just pull your boat up and enjoy the music!  If you don't have a boat, bring your lawn chair or blanket and come by car. The Sunday night concert with The Movement (a reggae-rock group) starts at 5pm, the show is FREE and all ages are welcome until 8pm when The Boathouse becomes 21+

If you're in the mood for some traditional Carolina beach music this weekend, then you're going to want to catch The Catalinas on Friday, August 31, 2018, 8:00 pm at Spanish Galleon, 100 North Ocean Boulevard, in North Myrtle Beach, SC as they kick off the Ocean Drive Septemberfest. 

Put down that Pumpkin Spice creamer and go soak up the last days of summer!

You've probably heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid. It shows you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal, it helps you get favorable rates from lenders, and it alleviates the payment of PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance.)

There was a time when 20-percent was the absolute rule in home finance, but things have changed and there are alot of down payment and financing options available to borrowers now that weren't available in the past. Additionally, there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.

THE DOWNSIDE

The downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You'll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you'll pay. You'll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20-percent down payment, which will eliminate some homes from your search.

THE UPSIDE

The national average for home appreciation is about five percent. The appreciation is independent from your home payment, so whether you put down 20 percent or three percent, the increase in equity is the same. If you're looking at your home as an investment, putting down a smaller amount can lead to a higher return on investment, while also leaving more of your savings free for home repairs, upgrades, or other investment opportunities.

THE HAPPY MEDIUM

Of course, your home payment options aren't binary. Most borrowers can find some common ground between the security of a traditional 20 percent and an investment-focused, small down payment. Talk with your REALTOR and your Lender to find the right option for you.

File this post under nothing to do with actual real estate but everything to do with living in South Carolina! If you follow us at all, you know we Love Where We Live! And this is just one more reason why. South Carolina is already well known for its foodie reputation...especially here in the low country, but now it is stepping up its' craft beer rep as well...hosting an epic statewide beer-brewing community that suits every palate. These are the Top 50 rated beers* in South Carolina by South Carolina Brewers.  Check them out and let us know which ones you'd add to the list! 

1 Mexican Cake

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

2 Mexican Coffee Cake

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

3 Mexican Cake - Tequila Barrel-Aged

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

4 Mexican Cake - Willett Barrel-Aged

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

5 Boy King Double IPA

COAST Brewing Company | American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.70% ABV

6 Key Lime Pie Gose

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Gose / 4.00% ABV

7 4th Anniversary - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (CocoNaughty Edition)

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.00% ABV

8 Gozu

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Gose / 4.00% ABV

9 Siberian Black Magic Panther

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.00% ABV

10 Margarita Gose

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Gose / 4.50% ABV

11 Gose

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Gose / 4.00% ABV

12 Two Claw

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American IPA / 7.00% ABV

13 Sungazer

Charles Towne Fermentory | American IPA / 6.80% ABV

14 7th Anniversary

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 9.50% ABV

15 Mexican Cake - Calvados Barrel-Aged

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

16 32°/50°

COAST Brewing Company | Kölsch / 4.80% ABV

17 Mr. Chipper

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Flanders Red Ale / 6.80% ABV

18 Shane's Big DIPA

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.00% ABV

19 Citrocity

Seminar Brewing | American IPA / 6.00% ABV

20 Mini Growler

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Russian Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

21 Bulls Bay Oyster Stout

COAST Brewing Company | Foreign / Export Stout / 5.80% ABV

22 Rye Knot Brown

COAST Brewing Company | American Brown Ale / 6.20% ABV

23 Rinse / Repeat - Galaxy

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American IPA / 7.00% ABV

24 Weisse Weisse Baby - Lemon Coconut

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Berliner Weissbier / 4.00% ABV

25 Dead Arm Pale Ale

COAST Brewing Company | American Pale Ale (APA) / 6.00% ABV

26 India Pale Ale

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American IPA / 6.80% ABV

27 Rinse / Repeat - Double Dry-Hopped Motueka And Wakatu

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American IPA / 7.00% ABV

28 Event Horizon Cascadian Dark Ale

COAST Brewing Company | American Black Ale / 7.00% ABV

29 Yeast Wrangler

Holy City Brewing | American Double / Imperial IPA / 10.00% ABV

30 Mexican Cake - Port Barrel-Aged

Westbrook Brewing Co.

American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.50% ABV

31 Viridi Rex

Edmund's Oast | American Double / Imperial IPA / 9.50% ABV

32 Blackbeerd Imperial Stout

COAST Brewing Company | Russian Imperial Stout / 9.30% ABV

33 Weisse Weisse Baby

Westbrook Brewing Co. | Berliner Weissbier / 4.00% ABV

34 Single Hop Series: All Cascade Pale Ale

COAST Brewing Company | American Pale Ale (APA) / 5.50% ABV

35 Carnie Fire

COAST Brewing Company | American Amber / Red Ale / 5.00% ABV

36 Leopold

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Wild Ale / 4.30% ABV

37 Three Claw

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV

38 Peanut Butter & Jelly

Edmund's Oast | American Brown Ale / 5.50% ABV

39 Mars Express

Charles Towne Fermentory | American Pale Ale (APA) / 5.90% ABV

40 ALTerior Motive

COAST Brewing Company | Altbier / 6.30% ABV

41 One Claw

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Pale Ale (APA) / 6.00% ABV

42 Single Hop Series: All Simcoe Pale Ale

COAST Brewing Company | American Pale Ale (APA) / 6.00% ABV

43 Brand New Eyes

Birds Fly South Ale Project | Saison / Farmhouse Ale / 5.50% ABV

44 Rinse / Repeat - Mosaic

Westbrook Brewing Co. | American Double / Imperial IPA / 7.00% ABV

45 The Finisher

Conquest Brewing Company | American Double / Imperial Stout / 17.50% ABV

46 Red Legs Scotch Ale

COAST Brewing Company | Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy / 7.80% ABV

47 Double Dry Hopped Sungazer

Charles Towne Fermentory | American IPA / 6.80% ABV

48 Brutus

Conquest Brewing Company | American Double / Imperial Stout / 12.60% ABV

49 Whiskey Sour

Carolina Bauernhaus | American Wild Ale / 4.50% ABV

50 World Court Mocha Blonde Stout

Legal Remedy Brewing | American Stout / 6.00% ABV

*Rated by BeerAdvocate.com

There are so many incredible, awesome reasons to live here on the Grand Strand...don't let a couple mosquitos bug you!

Check out this video...all organic, DIY mosquito repellant. You're welcome. :)

The Home Inspection...it can cause anxiety in buyers and fear in sellers! Either way, it's a crucial part of the home buying process. Follow these simple guidelines and don't get "tripped up" by the Home Inspection

#1 Don't be Cheap

Hire an experienced inspector, even if it means a little higher rate than the newbie.

#2 Be Present

Make sure you are there during the inspection so you understand what is being documented. If you can't be there, ask your real estate agent to be there for you.

#3 Don't Interfere

It's important for you to be there and to ask questions, but don't offer your "advice" to the inspector. He's a paid expert.

#4 Don't Expect Perfection

Don't freak out over flaws. No home is perfect and items that need repaired can be negotiated.

#5 Inspect Repairs

After repairs are made, make sure an inspector signs off on them.

#6 Don't Bypass the Inspection

It's tempting to think you may not need a detailed inspection, but that's not prudent. Even new construction homes can have problems!

At Jeff Casterline Properties | Beach Realty Group, we're dedicated to making your Myrtle Beach Real Estate transaction as smooth as possible!

Why Professional Photography Matters When Selling Your Home

So you're ready to list your home for sale and you've started interviewing Real Estate Agents. If the Agent you're talking to is not a firm believer in hiring a professional photographer to take the listing photos of your home, you may want to move on to the next agent asap. 

In the past, photos didn't matter as much, but today photographs matter! A lot! A large majority of buyers today are Millenials. They've grown up in an online, fast-paced, scroll-until-something-catches-your-eye world. There is an abundance of information and competition online. And the one thing that gets buyer's attention in this online atmosphere is great photos. A set of beautiful photos online will capture a potential buyer's attention better than anything else. It will get them to pause, it will get them to click on the property, it will get them to want to take a look at the property.

Real Estate Agents are typically not professional photographers and iPhones are not professional photography equipment. And it's not just that professional photographers have better equipment. They also understand lighting, composition, and angles. They understand editing, staging, and cropping...all things that are crucial to making your home as appealing as possible to buyers online. And the more people who want to look at your property, the quicker you will see an offer. More traffic means a better, quicker offer. It's really that simple. 

The Myrtle Beach area is full of restaurant options! In fact, there are so many that sometimes it's hard to decide where to go. But being the team players that we are here at BRG, we'll continue to take on the challenge of trying as many as we can and reporting back to you. :) Here are some of our top selections for Seafood Restaurants up and down the Grand Strand. Let us know if you have some additions to make to the list!

Sea Captains House

Once a privately-owned family beach cottage, this picturesque oceanfront restaurant serves up excellent seafood dishes with a side order of wonderful view. Featuring a combination of Southern cooking and Lowcountry seafood, the cuisine is award-winning and has been featured in numerous national publications. For more than 60 years this "temporary" eatery, which was slated for demolition to make room for a high-rise hotel, is still drawing huge crowds. While taking in the beautiful views, try any one of their delicious platters including oysters, shrimp and rock lobster. Also served are a variety of chicken and steak dishes, all accompanied by fresh seasonal vegetables.

Chestnut Hill

Located on Restaurant Row, this place is known for all its food, but the seafood takes center stage. All of the fish and seafood they serve are fresh. How fresh? The restaurant owns and operates its own fishing boat. But for those with more terrene tastes, there are delicious steak, chicken, lamb and veal selections, helping Chestnut Hill stand as one of the Strand's most versatile dinner choices. If you have the chance, their Sunday brunch is a "can't miss" that features everything from grilled quail to Southern fried chicken. Reservations are not required but are recommended during the summer months.

Flamingo Grill

Flamingo Grill has done well pursuing the cutting edge of food trends, especially with gluten-free. The two owners, both named Dino, are local boys who grew up in restaurants back in the days when Myrtle Beach was a two-lane, three-month-resort, dotted with mom and pop guest houses and a couple beach-ball shops. “We owe all our success to continuously attracting some of the Beach’s best people to work with us. We find classy, hardworking young people with a sense of humor. Our dedicated staff at both restaurants have made our 30+ year careers a pleasure.” Locals rave about the Blackened Prime Rib, Seared Tuna, Lowcountry Crabcakes, Lobster Tail, Cajun Oysters, and their one of a kind Fried Lobster Chunks. If you’re feeling Italian, they offer Pasta Scallops, Grouper Picatta, Pasta ala Vodka and nightly specials.

Mr. Fish

The Seafood Market now has seating. Oh, and it's possible they will drive you to and from their restaurant free of charge ( if you're reasonably close! ) Mr. Fish has been serving the Myrtle Beach area fish market since 1994, Mr. Fish has dedicated his life to providing local, fresh seafood to anyone with a love for delicious fish and seafood. Now a popular Myrtle Beach seafood restaurant and fish market, the Mr. Fish seafood restaurant offers a full seafood menu with the highly requested steamed or fried shrimp and oysters. You can also order appetizers and specialty rolls from the sushi menu or stop by for the freshest happy hour on the beach!

Bonefish Grill

Founded in 2000 in St. Petersburg, FL, the Bonefish Grill experience is the perfect recipe marrying simplicity, quality and consistency in food, service, ambiance, and value. Bonefish Grill specializes in market-fresh fish and other wood-grilled specialties. They combine this with a 'big-city bar' that offers fresh cocktails and an affordable wine list.

Wahoo's Raw Bar and Marina

Wahoo's Raw Bar & Marina is a Murrells Inlet dining hotspot, an energetic gathering place right off the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. If you're looking for a fun spot to enjoy fresh Murrells Inlet seafood and look out into the marsh. The food here is simple but memorable, the atmosphere is laid back and quite often there's live music to be heard.

We're always on the lookout for our next favorite Myrtle Beach area restaurant so let us know who we should add to the list!

Sometimes we forget that we have such stunning estates in our area. This Pawleys Island home in Waverly is truly something special:

"Rarely does the opportunity occur for one to acquire such a remarkably unique, South Carolina Lowcountry estate. A place where the convergence of natural setting, tasteful architecture and quality of construction combine to both stir the senses and soothe the soul. Thoughtfully situated among the centuries-old Spanish moss draped live oaks on a high bluff overlooking the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the historic ricefields of the Waccamaw River, elegantly stands a timeless structure more reminiscent of an English/Dutch Manor house than a southern plantation home. The size of the approximately 59-acre estate, bordered by pasture lands on one side and the broad river on the other, ensures tranquility and privacy yet doesn’t require a full-time staff to upkeep and maintain. Virtually every room and most certainly the expansive, but comfortable rear porch, offer magnificent views of the peaceful waterway. Designed by noted South Carolina architect Mark Maresca and constructed by the highly regarded local BEC Construction firm, the home is the distinguishable product of the coming together of discerning owners and a great design and construction team. The subtle design touches were exquisitely executed during construction. Quality of living captivates you upon entering the broad foyer and looking through the home down to the river. The right wing offers a private sitting area prior to entering the master suite with its generous closet and elegant bath. The central parlor is stately yet harmonious with the Lowcountry environment. Attention to detail is noted throughout. Enjoy the grand fireplace, as you admire the vast windows and natural light. The kitchen offers all the amenities a chef may need and opens up to its own gathering area and fireplace, a perfect common place for friends and family. The second floor has two lovely bedrooms each with a private bath. You will find a cozy balcony providing more views of the rice fields and Waccamaw River. The garage is attached to the main house. Above it is a spacious guest cottage with a full bath. Additional features include a private office, large utility room, the perfect space for a wine cellar, artist studio (or small guest cottage), pastures, and a barn.This rural plantation feel is in the heart of Pawleys Island and just a few short minutes drive to the beach."

Large Oak Trees Draped in Spanish Moss

Gorgeously Chic Large Living Room and Fireplace

Beautiful screened in porch with views of the Intracoastal Waterway

This PERFECT kitchen

Victorian / Bohemian Offices

And many breathtaking bedrooms.

Check out the size of this closet!

And also this beautiful bathroom

For more pictures and information click here!

Listing courtesy of Peace Sotheby's Intl Realty GT